A team of scientists from California has made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against cancer by sending their developments into space. In a recent mission, researchers on board the Axiom 3 spacecraft observed the progression of cancer and the effects of treatment in conditions of microgravity, where cells age faster and experience significant stress.
Alongside the crew members, miniature tumor organoids, grown from cancer patients at the University of California in San Diego, were also sent to the International Space Station. This allowed scientists to study the impact of microgravity on cancer cells and accelerate their research.
Dr. Catherion Jamison, the leading researcher of the project, explained that previous space flights had already revealed changes in stem cells that were not observed on Earth. The ADAR1 cloning gene, which is responsible for tumor growth, was activated under the stress of microgravity, leading to the rapid progression of tumors in space.
In this latest mission, tumors treated with two types of anti-cancer drugs blocking ADAR1 were sent. One of these drugs, Fedratinib, has already been approved by the FDA for the treatment of blood cancers. The other drug, Rebxinib, is an experimental medicine that blocks ADAR1 activation in a different way, preventing the formation of malignant proteins. The results showed a significant slowdown in cancer growth compared to the control samples, with Rebxinib demonstrating greater efficacy than Fedratinib.
Dr. Jamison and her team are now preparing to start clinical trials of Rebxinib on Earth, with the hope of receiving positive results. She emphasized that this research is not just wishful thinking, but rather a practical hope that involves collaboration between scientists on Earth and astronauts from NASA and Europe.
These studies in space have opened up new possibilities in the fight against cancer, offering the potential for rapid drug testing and development. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of a new method of treating this devastating disease.