"Targeting Only Cancer Cell Lysosomes"... Cancer Treatment Without Drug Resistance

UNIST Research Team Develops Mycel Structure Enabling 'Selective Attack'

A cancer treatment technology capable of overcoming drug resistance has been developed. It is expected to present a new vision for chemical anticancer drugs in the future.

On the 9th, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced that Professor Yujahyeong's chemistry research team developed an anticancer treatment technology that selectively destroys cancer cell lysosomes and can overcome drug resistance.

Lysosomes are organelles that dissolve and recycle unusable cellular organelles. Anticancer drugs targeting lysosomes have attracted attention as a new type of anticancer agent capable of overcoming existing drug resistance, but active research has not been conducted.

The research team developed a substance that forms a 'micelle structure' through self-assembly arranged in a certain pattern. The micelle structure refers to a spherical shape that contains an oil-friendly part inside and is surrounded by a water-friendly part outside. This micelle structure shows stability in the biological environment, allowing it to move without harming other cells.

In particular, the micelle consists of 'RGD peptides,' which selectively target receptors overexpressed on cancer cell membranes. Lysosomes in cancer cells overexpress the enzyme 'cathepsin B,' which degrades unnecessary proteins, and the micelle enters the lysosome by targeting this enzyme. Once the micelle reaches the lysosome, it reacts with cathepsin B.

As a result, a part of the peptide forming the micelle is cleaved by cathepsin B. The cleaved molecules then reassemble to form long fibrous structures, during which the lysosomal membrane is damaged. This causes lysosomal dysfunction, ultimately leading to cancer cell death.

Based on the characteristic overexpression of cathepsin B in cancer cell lysosomes, the research team confirmed cancer cell death by inducing lysosomal reassembly. Experiments using live mice also showed a high effect of cancer cell death. It is particularly differentiated by overcoming drug resistance, a drawback of existing chemical anticancer drugs, along with enhanced targeting ability. Conventional chemotherapy causes resistance due to continuous drug administration, but this problem is solved by selectively destroying cancer cell lysosomes.

Professor Yu said, “The development of lysosome-targeting substances for cancer cells makes it possible to develop effective anticancer drugs without drug resistance,” and added, “It is expected to present a new vision for chemical anticancer treatments in the future.”

The research results were published online on the 17th of last month in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.