MIT researchers have developed a nanoparticle-based technique that reprograms immune cells directly inside the body, converting them into agents capable of attacking cancer and harmful immune cells. In experiments on mice, the approach eliminated tumors and reversed liver damage, according to the team behind the work. The method delivers genetic instructions to immune cells in situ, bypassing the complex and costly laboratory procedures required by current cell therapies, in which a patient's cells are extracted, modified and reinfused. The findings, reported in the health category, suggest a potentially more accessible route to powerful immunotherapy.
The breakthrough could substantially simplify and reduce the cost of immune-based treatments while opening new possibilities for addressing cancer and autoimmune diseases, the researchers said. By reprogramming cells within the body rather than in specialized facilities, the technique may allow more patients to benefit from therapies currently limited by expense and infrastructure. The results remain preliminary, having been demonstrated only in animal models, and further studies will be needed to establish whether the approach is safe and effective in humans. Independent experts cautioned that clinical translation typically takes years and carries significant scientific and regulatory hurdles.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.