Nanoparticles of 'Good Cholesterol' Could Help in the War Against Cancer

New research, including an Indian-origin boffin, suggests that 'good cholesterol' (High-density lipoprotein) can act as a special delivery vehicle of destruction for cancer.

A research team, led by scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of North Texas Health Science Center, found that synthetic HDL nanoparticles loaded with small interfering RNA to silence cancer-promoting genes selectively shrunk or destroyed ovarian cancer tumors in mice.

Good Cholesterol Structure Could Help Explain Protective Effects
The structure of human HDL cholesterol has been determined by University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers

"RNA interference has great therapeutic potential but delivering it to cancer cells has been problematic," said Anil Sood, the study's senior author and MD Anderson's director of Ovarian Cancer Research and co-director of the Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA at MD Anderson.

"Combining siRNA with HDL provides an efficient way to get these molecules to their targets. This study has several important implications in the ability to fight certain cancers."

The study has been reported in the April edition of Neoplasia.

Good Cholesterol Linked to Reduced Bowel Cancer Risk
Those who have high levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, are at a lower risk of suffering from bowel cancer

Source-ANI

Smoking Cessation Linked To Increase in Good Cholesterol: Study
Researchers have found that smoking cessation increases levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein), a good type of cholesterol - despite the weight gain commonly associated with quitting.

Cholesterol Worries Everytime You Eat? Here Comes Synthetic 'Good Cholesterol'!
Fearing that gorging on chocolate cake and juicy beef roast might send your blood cholesterol levels sky high? Well then here's your ultimate saviour- synthetic high-density lipoprotein (HDL).