Antisense Oligonucleotides against Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Advanced stage cancers are typically marked by metastases of the primary cancer to secondary sites such as lungs, liver, and bones. Such metastatic cancers result in strikingly low 5-year survival rates, underscoring the need for novel therapeutics. For example, bone metastasis of primary breast cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 13%, lung cancer only 1%. There is a need for targeted therapy options specific to metastases. One approach to targeting metastases is to reduce cancer cell migration and invasion.Several mRNAs become localized to subcellular destinations during the metastatic process. These mRNAs may play roles in cell and organelle development – either through corresponding increases in encoded protein concentration or through dynamic interactions with the extracellular environment. Their activities may be modulated via antisense oligonucleotides. One example is the mRNA localization at the protrusions extended by mesenchymal migrating cells, partially under control of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor. Regulation of the mRNAs localized to these protrusions may be usurped to target cancer cell migration and invasion and, ultimately, metastasis. RAB13 and NET1 are especially promising mRNA targets as they are ov erexpressed in multiple cancer types and contributory to cell motility in vitro.Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, have shown that mRNA localization at protrusive regions ...

Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - July 21, 2020 Category: Research Authors: ott-admin Source Type: research