The future of cancer research in Africa
- Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University
CIVIS Alliance researchers explore targeted drug delivery for infection-linked colorectal cancer.
Scientists at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) are investigating the possibility of an exosome-based colon-targeted drug delivery system for infection-induced colorectal cancer.
Exosomes are tiny, naturally occurring biological carriers that transport molecules between cells. Because they can fuse with cell membranes, they have the potential to deliver therapeutic agents directly to targeted tissues.
Building African-centred cancer innovation
WADDP is hoping to use exosomes derived from sources that are readily available in Africa, including plants such as sorghum. These exosomes can be engineered to improve stability and loaded with therapeutic agents tailored to different stages of disease.
Current colorectal cancer treatments, including high-dose chemotherapy, can cause significant side effects and affect healthy cells alongside cancer cells. Furthermore, conventional treatments do not always account for the possible role of infections in disease progression.
Meanwhile, more advanced targeted therapies and immunotherapies, while promising, remain inaccessible for many patients because of their high cost.
A new route for targeted treatment
“We are exploring whether exosomes can be used to carry chemotherapy drugs, antiviral therapies, nucleic acids and immunochemotherapies directly to colorectal tumours or the surrounding tumour microenvironment. The goal is to improve treatment precision while reducing toxicity and unwanted side effects,” said WADDP Director Professor Yahya Choonara, who presented at a recent CIVIS webinar that introduced its African Cancer Immunology and Infection Initiative (TACII).
is a European universities network that includes six African alliance institutions, including Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, which is the only South African university in the . Choonara partners with CIVIS member institutions in CIVIS : Healthcare.
The African Cancer Immunology and Infection Initiative
The issue is becoming increasingly important as rates of early-onset colorectal cancer continue to rise globally, including among adults younger than 50 years of age. Many of these individuals are in the most economically productive years of their lives, adding urgency to efforts to develop more effective and affordable treatment options.
In cancer immunology, some tumours are described as “cold” because they evade detection by the immune system. Others are considered “hot” because they trigger stronger immune responses.
In the CIVIS webinar, Choonara explained that exosome-based approaches may help make tumours more visible to the immune system, potentially improving the effectiveness of treatment.
The platform is also examining whether exosome-based delivery systems could strengthen anti-tumour immune responses.
In some instances, treatment strategies may focus on reducing viral load as part of cancer prevention efforts. In others, the objective is to deliver chemotherapy more precisely to the colorectal region.
“We are trying to drive more targeted, safer, more affordable and more accessible chemotherapies for African populations, and obviously around the world as well,” said Choonara.
Challenges remain, including the need for improved exosome manufacturing and characterisation technologies, as well as evolving regulatory frameworks for advanced therapies. Yet Choonara believes these obstacles should not slow scientific progress.
The presentation formed part of a broader discussion on the future of cancer research in Africa through TACII, a newly established pan-African initiative focused on the intersection of cancer, infection, immunology and the microbiome.
Responding to Africa’s infection-linked cancer burden
TACII was established in response to the unique cancer landscape across Africa, where a substantial proportion of cancers are associated with infectious diseases. Viruses such as HPV, hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr virus and HIV continue to shape cancer risk on the continent, while exposure to bacterial, parasitic and other infections may also influence immune responses and treatment outcomes.
“It has become important for researchers to not only discover new therapies, but also how those treatments can be delivered safely, affordably and effectively,” says Choonara.
Through its work on exosome-based, colon-targeted drug delivery systems, WADDP is helping shape an African-centred approach to cancer treatment, one that connects infection biology, pharmaceutical innovation and the needs of African patients.