In a laboratory in Orleans, France, scientists are exploring the potential of messenger RNA (mRNA) \u2014 famously used in Covid-19 vaccines \u2014 as a possible treatment for aggressive forms of cancer. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is a molecule that carries genetic instructions from DNA to cells, directing them to produce specific proteins. \u201cFor cancer, this message is designed to stimulate the patient\u2019s own immune system to fight tumors effectively,\u201d said Dimitri Szymczak, project manager at INSERM\u2019s ART lab in Orleans. Although mRNA was discovered in the early 1960s, it gained global recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it enabled the rapid development of next-generation vaccines \u2014 a breakthrough that contributed to the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Currently, most research focuses on using mRNA to develop cancer vaccines, but its applications extend far beyond that. \u201cmRNA can enhance immunity, compensate for malfunctioning cells, target rare or genetic disorders, and even treat allergies,\u201d explained Chantal Pichon, head of the ART lab. Globally, over 200 mRNA clinical trials are underway, led by pharmaceutical giants and emerging biotech firms in countries including the United States, China, and Japan. Pichon noted that France boasts \u201csome of the best fundamental research teams working on mRNA.\u201d At the ART lab, scientists are developing various mRNA formulations to test their safety and effectiveness on cells, ensuring they are non-toxic while achieving the desired therapeutic effects, Szymczak added. Bunker buster The RNA used in experiments are usually produced in test tubes, a costly process often patented by US companies. However, some of the lab’s scientists are seeking an alternative by creating the RNAs in yeast, which has the potential to slash costs by 10 to 50 times. But these RNAs then need to be cleaned and checked to make sure they meet the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. Another team is trying to find a new treatment for pancreatic cancer, which has an extremely low survival rate after being diagnosed. The survival rate has risen “from five percent in 2000 to 10 percent today”, ART gastroenterologist Birane Beye said. The only slight improvement over two decades of effort shows “that therapies like chemotherapy and immunotherapy aren’t working very well”, he added. Seeking a breakthrough, French scientists are trying to combine an mRNA vaccine with ultrasound technology. “The idea is to use the mRNA to teach immune cells to defend themselves against this very aggressive cancer,” Beye explained. First, a powerful ultrasound is used to “create vibrations inside the tissue that generate gas bubbles”, he said. “When these bubbles burst, they destroy the barrier surrounding the pancreatic cancer — which is a bit like a bunker — allowing the mRNA vaccine to penetrate the tumour.” So far, they have shown that ultrasounds can be used on the pancreas — and that this technique can improve the results of conventional treatments. Next up, the scientists hope they can use the power of mRNA to increase the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Thursday is World Pancreatic Cancer Day, which aims to spread awareness of the deadly cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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