Benitec Biopharma Ltd (BNTC)

[Blane]

Great Post by Smokey on Hotcopper...


"Any smart people know if Benitec could utilize this approach? Engineer something to deliver PLEKHA7 back to the cells?

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/w...theyre-hopeful-can-one-day-switch-off-disease

Excerpt-

The scientists discovered that the glue which holds cells together is regulated by biological microprocessors called microRNAs. When everything is working normally, the microRNAs instruct the cells to stop dividing when they have replicated sufficiently. They do this by triggering production of a protein called PLEKHA7 which breaks the cell bonds. But in cancer that process does not work.

Scientists discovered they could switch on cancer in cells by removing the microRNAs from cells and preventing them from producing the protein. And, crucially, they found that they could reverse the process, switching the brakes back on and stopping cancer.

MicroRNAs are small molecules which can be delivered directly to cells or tumours so an injection to increase levels could switch off disease.
“We have now done this in very aggressive human cell lines from breast and bladder cancer,” added Prof Anastasiadis.
“These cells are already missing PLEKHA7. Restoring either PLEKHA7 levels, or the levels of miRNAs in these cells turns them back to a benign state. We are now working on better delivery options.”