New dual-action therapy could revolutionize breast cancer care

A new study in IOP Publishing’s Nanotechnology combines two powerful, non-invasive cancer treatments, offering new hope for less harmful breast cancer therapy.  

Researchers have developed a new method for fighting breast cancer, merging photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses light-activated drugs to destroy cancer cells, with ferroptosis, a method of killing cancer cells via iron overload and fat damage. When combined, the two cancer combatting techniques enhance each other; PDT weakens the cells, clearing the way for ferroptosis to destroy them.  

At the heart of this development are engineered particles made from red blood cell membranes, designed to safely deliver cancer-fighting drugs. To enhance precision, scientists added a targeting molecule called RGD peptide, which helps the particles stick to breast cancer cells. The drugs were gently loaded onto the particles using mild ultrasound, preserving their stability and function. 

Current treatment methods – such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy - often come with significant side effects, including weakened immune function, bone marrow suppression, and damage to the heart and nervous system. In contrast, the new treatment is designed to more precisely target cancer cells, which helps protect healthy tissues. Because of this precision, the treatment can be safely repeated, reducing the likelihood of harmful side effects and improving the overall quality of life for patients. 

This advancement follows the recent discovery of belantamab mafodotin, widely known as Trojan horse therapy. Trojan horse therapy combines a chemotherapy drug with an engineered antibody that detects cancerous markings on plasma cells. The antibodies stick to the cancerous cells and are absorbed, releasing the chemotherapy drug and destroying the cancer from within. 

This new breast cancer therapy also uses targeted delivery but instead relies on red blood cells enhanced with RGD peptides that specifically bind to breast cancer cells. Once attached, the red blood cells deliver a combination of PDT and ferroptosis-inducing agents directly into the cancerous cells, mimicking the delivery method of Trojan horse therapy, but using a non-invasive mechanism tailored to breast cancer. 

Key Advantages: 

• Biocompatible and safe, emulating red blood cells 

• Highly targeted towards cancer cells 

• Dual-action, combining PDT and ferroptosis for greater effectiveness    

“This approach represents a major step forward,” says corresponding author, Gaofeng Liang. “By uniting two complementary cancer-combat mechanisms, we can achieve stronger results with fewer side effects.” 

Although still in the early stages of lab testing, the treatment shows great promise in advancing the fight against breast cancer. 

ENDS 

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