Rituximab success in fighting cancer

Researchers from the Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR) have been able to unravel the mystery behind the success of an effective cancerous drug called ‘rituximab’. This drug is very effective in destroying cancerous B cells and treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

The researchers studied the behaviour of the cancerous cells when these drugs were introduced into their environment; imaging was possible via use of high powered lasers, which provided quality video images. They found that the introduction of the drugs improved the attacking ability of the white blood cells, hence fighting cancerous cells. The video showed that rituximab tended to attach to a side of the cancer cell, and formed a cap which attracted proteins to its side. This creates a division in the cell structure; one of the sides becomes deficient in protein while the other side contains a large amount.

This change in cell structure and proteins effectively improved the destructive abilities of the white blood cells in the body. When the white blood cell latched onto the rituximap cap on the B cell, it was able to destroy the cells with an 80% success rate; by contrast, when there was no re-arrangement, the success rate was 40%.

The success of the white blood cells was due to the re-arrangement in the protein structure of these cells. This technique could help with future designs of effective cancerous cells by considering changes in the polarization of cells and their structure; this could increase their effectiveness in destroying cancerous cells.