Credit: Unsplash+.
Radiation therapy is a key part of cancer treatment, with about 60% of cancer patients in the U.S. receiving it at some stage.
However, radiation can cause severe side effects, damaging healthy tissues and making treatment unbearable for many patients.
Some experience painful mouth sores, difficulty eating, rectal bleeding, or other complications that can lead to hospitalization or even force them to stop treatment.
To address this problem, scientists from MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the University of Iowa have taken inspiration from tardigrades—tiny creatures known for their ability to survive extreme conditions, including radiation.
Their research, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, suggests that a protein from tardigrades could help protect human cells from radiation damage.
Tardigrades, also called “water bears,” are microscopic organisms that can survive extreme dehydration, deep space, and radiation doses thousands of times higher than what humans can tolerate.
Their secret lies in a unique damage suppressor protein (Dsup), which binds to DNA and helps shield it from radiation.
The research team explored whether this same protein could be used to protect human cells during cancer treatment. They developed a method to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA)—the genetic instructions for making Dsup—into cells just before radiation exposure.
This would allow the cells to temporarily produce Dsup, shielding them from radiation damage. Since mRNA naturally degrades in a few hours, the effect would be temporary, reducing long-term risks.
Testing the Protein in Mice
To test their approach, the scientists created tiny polymer-lipid particles designed to efficiently deliver mRNA to specific tissues, such as the mouth and colon, which are often damaged during radiation therapy.
They injected these particles into mice several hours before exposing them to radiation doses similar to those used in cancer treatment. The results were promising:
Mice treated with the protein showed 50% fewer DNA breaks in healthy cells compared to untreated mice.
The protective effect was limited to the injection site, ensuring that tumors were still affected by radiation.
This is crucial because the goal is to shield healthy tissues without protecting cancer cells from radiation therapy.
Future Potential for Cancer Patients and Astronauts
Currently, there are very few options to prevent radiation damage in cancer patients. Some drugs help, and in prostate cancer, doctors can use a hydrogel barrier to protect nearby tissues. However, there is no widespread solution for patients undergoing radiation for other types of cancer.
If this protein-based method is successfully developed for humans, it could provide a new way to protect cancer patients from the painful side effects of radiation therapy, potentially allowing more people to complete their treatment without complications.
The researchers also see other potential uses for this technology.
Chemotherapy patients – Many chemotherapy drugs cause DNA damage similar to radiation, so Dsup could reduce toxic side effects for these patients.
Astronauts – Space radiation is a major concern for long-term missions. If this technology works in humans, it could help protect astronauts from cosmic radiation during space travel.
Before this treatment can be tested in people, researchers need to modify the Dsup protein to prevent immune system reactions.
Since the original protein comes from tardigrades, the human body might recognize it as foreign and attack it. The team is now working on developing a human-friendly version of the protein.
Dr. Giovanni Traverso, an MIT professor and gastroenterologist involved in the study, emphasized the importance of this work:
“Radiation is a powerful tool, but its side effects can be devastating. There’s a real need for ways to protect patients’ healthy tissues while allowing treatment to continue.”
If successful, this tardigrade-inspired therapy could revolutionize radiation treatment for cancer patients, reduce complications, and improve survival rates—all by learning from one of nature’s toughest creatures.
The research findings can be found in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about vitamin D and bowel cancer, and a cautionary note about peanuts and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between ultra-processed foods and cancer, and everyday foods to ward off pancreatic cancer.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report . All rights reserved.