Israeli researchers induce cancer cells to 'commit suicide'

(JNS) - Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a method to trick cancer cells into self-destructing.

The research team, led by professor Dan Peer and PhD student Yasmin Granot Matok, encoded a toxin produced by bacteria into messenger RNA molecules. These mRNA particles were directly delivered to cancer cells, triggering the cells to produce the toxin, which ultimately led to their demise.

The findings of their study were recently published in peer-reviewed journal Theranostics.

Unlike with chemotherapy treatment, the toxins did not harm nearby cells.

"Our idea was to deliver safe m...