Fig. 1: Schematic of the clinical workflow for applying gene therapy foam in esophageal cancer patients.
From: Drinkable gene therapy foam for the treatment of constrictive esophageal carcinoma
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing mRNA encoding genes that trigger tumor apoptosis are embedded in freshly prepared methylcellulose/xanthan gum-based foam using a simple syringe mixing technique (not shown). This creates a microfoam gene therapy vector. This medication is then orally administered to the patient to coat the esophagus and form a local reservoir that slowly releases the gene therapy drug at the tumorous esophageal stricture. Gene therapy foam treatments could be repeated as medically necessary and combined with standard-of-care radiotherapy to further boost the cancer-killing effect.
