Indian researchers have come up with an innovative cancer treatment using a combination of ultra-small magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor (HSP90i) at suboptimal doses for magnetic hyperthermia-based therapy. This approach could significantly improve treatment efficacy by reducing the necessary dosage of chemotherapy, thereby serving as an adjunct therapy that minimizes side effects.

With rising cancer rates globally, there is a pressing need for new treatment methods. Traditional therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery have notable limitations, including drug resistance and severe side effects. In response, researchers are exploring advanced treatments like nanotherapy, which offer fewer side effects.

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Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, have demonstrated that combining 17-DMAG, an HSP90 inhibitor, with magnetic hyperthermia-based cancer therapy (MHCT) can enhance the effectiveness of heat-based cancer treatments.

In preclinical studies using rat models with glioma, the combined therapy administered via intra-tumoral injections resulted in significant glioma cell death, with tumor inhibition rates reaching 65% at the primary site and 53% at the secondary site within just 8 days.

Published in ACS Nano, this method is less invasive and causes fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments. The research team showed that MNPs, when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF), effectively target tumors. This combined MHCT approach reduces the amount of chemotherapy needed, making the treatment safer and more efficient. Additionally, it can address distant tumors without requiring extra doses at secondary sites, highlighting its potential as a highly effective cancer therapy.

Further global research is needed to advance this therapy towards clinical application, potentially providing a new adjunct or alternative treatment for cancer. This study paves the way for more efficient and tolerable anti-cancer therapies, benefiting millions of patients and offering new insights into hyperthermia-based treatments.

Led by Dr. Deepika Sharma, the research team focused on the role of HSP90, a gene upregulated in response to heat stress. By inhibiting HSP90 with 17-DMAG, the researchers aimed to impair the cells' repair mechanisms for heat-induced damage, leading to increased tumor cell death.

Their work has centered on creating ultra-small magnetic nanoparticles with superior heat generation properties and optimizing the delivery of the HSP90 inhibitor. An additional advantage of this novel therapy is its potential to stimulate the immune system, enhancing the body’s natural defense against cancer. By addressing drug resistance, a common challenge in cancer treatment, this approach represents a promising new strategy in the fight against cancer.

The researchers believe that the treatment may activate an immune response through cytokine secretion, further boosting its anti-tumor effects.