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Seyhan AA. Trials and Tribulations of MicroRNA Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1469. [PMID: 38338746 PMCID: PMC10855871 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and a myriad of human diseases, particularly various cancer types, has generated significant interest in exploring their potential as a novel class of drugs. This has led to substantial investments in interdisciplinary research fields such as biology, chemistry, and medical science for the development of miRNA-based therapies. Furthermore, the recent global success of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic has further revitalized interest in RNA-based immunotherapies, including miRNA-based approaches to cancer treatment. Consequently, RNA therapeutics have emerged as highly adaptable and modular options for cancer therapy. Moreover, advancements in RNA chemistry and delivery methods have been pivotal in shaping the landscape of RNA-based immunotherapy, including miRNA-based approaches. Consequently, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry has witnessed a resurgence of interest in incorporating RNA-based immunotherapies and miRNA therapeutics into their development programs. Despite substantial progress in preclinical research, the field of miRNA-based therapeutics remains in its early stages, with only a few progressing to clinical development, none reaching phase III clinical trials or being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several facing termination due to toxicity issues. These setbacks highlight existing challenges that must be addressed for the broad clinical application of miRNA-based therapeutics. Key challenges include establishing miRNA sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity towards their intended targets, mitigating immunogenic reactions and off-target effects, developing enhanced methods for targeted delivery, and determining optimal dosing for therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. Additionally, the limited understanding of the precise functions of miRNAs limits their clinical utilization. Moreover, for miRNAs to be viable for cancer treatment, they must be technically and economically feasible for the widespread adoption of RNA therapies. As a result, a thorough risk evaluation of miRNA therapeutics is crucial to minimize off-target effects, prevent overdosing, and address various other issues. Nevertheless, the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for various diseases is evident, and future investigations are essential to determine their applicability in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila A. Seyhan
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA;
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Lifespan Health System and Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Frydrychowicz M, Kuszel Ł, Dworacki G, Budna-Tukan J. MicroRNA in lung cancer-a novel potential way for early diagnosis and therapy. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:459-477. [PMID: 36821071 PMCID: PMC10457410 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00750-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. One of the reasons of poor prognosis and high mortality of lung cancer patients is the diagnosis of the disease in its advanced stage. Despite innovative diagnostic methods and multiple completed and ongoing clinical trials aiming at therapy improvement, no significant increase in patients' long-term survival has been noted over last decades. Patients would certainly benefit from early detection of lung cancer. Therefore, it is crucial to find new biomarkers that can help predict outcomes and tumor responses in order to maximize therapy effectiveness and avoid over- or under-treating patients with lung cancer. Nowadays, scientists' attention is mainly dedicated to so-called liquid biopsy, which is fully non-invasive and easily available method based on simple blood draw. Among common liquid biopsy elements, circulating tumor nucleic acids are worth mentioning. Epigenetic biomarkers, particularly miRNA expression, have several distinct features that make them promising prognostic markers. In this review, we described miRNA's involvement in tumorigenesis and present it as a predictor of cancer development and progression, potential indicator of treatment efficacy, and most importantly promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Frydrychowicz
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kuszel
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Dworacki
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Budna-Tukan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-781 Poznan, Poland
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Diener C, Keller A, Meese E. Emerging concepts of miRNA therapeutics: from cells to clinic. Trends Genet 2022; 38:613-626. [PMID: 35303998 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 118.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are very powerful genetic regulators, as evidenced by the fact that a single miRNA can direct entire cellular pathways via interacting with a broad spectrum of target genes. This property renders miRNAs as highly interesting therapeutic tools to restore cell functions that are altered as part of a disease phenotype. However, this strength of miRNAs is also a weakness because their cellular effects are so numerous that off-target effects can hardly be avoided. In this review, we point out the main challenges and the strategies to specifically address the problems that need to be surmounted in the push toward a therapeutic application of miRNAs. Particular emphasis is given to approaches that have already found their way into clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Diener
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- Center for Bioinformatics, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Eckart Meese
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
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Low miR-150-5p and miR-320b Expression Predicts Reduced Survival of COPD Patients. Cells 2019; 8:cells8101162. [PMID: 31569706 PMCID: PMC6848926 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of death, reducing life expectancy on average between 5 and 7 years. The survival time after diagnosis, however, varies considerably as a result of the heterogeneity of COPD. Therefore, markers that predict individual survival of COPD patients are of great value. We analyzed baseline molecular profiles and collected 54 months of follow-up data of the cohort study “COPD and SYstemic consequences-COmorbidities NETwork” (COSYCONET). Genome-wide microRNA signatures from whole blood collected at time of the inclusion in the study were generated for 533 COPD patients including patients that deceased during the 54-month follow-up period (n = 53) and patients that survived this period (n = 480). We identified two blood-born microRNAs (miR-150-5p and miR-320b) that were highly predictive for survival of COPD patients. The expression change was then confirmed by RT-qPCR in 245 individuals. Ninety percent of patients with highest expression of miR-150-5p survived the 54-month period in contrast to only 50% of patients with lowest expression intensity. Moreover, the abundance of the oncogenic miR-150-5p in blood of COPD patients was predictive for the development of cancer. Thus, molecular profiles measured at the time of a COPD diagnosis have a high predictive power for the survival of patients.
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Wang Z, Zhang X. Single Cell Proteomics for Molecular Targets in Lung Cancer: High-Dimensional Data Acquisition and Analysis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1068:73-87. [PMID: 29943297 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0502-3_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In the proteomic and genomic era, lung cancer researchers are increasingly under challenge with traditional protein analyzing tools. High output, multiplexed analytical procedures are in demand for disclosing the post-translational modification, molecular interactions and signaling pathways of proteins precisely, specifically, dynamically and systematically, as well as for identifying novel proteins and their functions. This could be better realized by single-cell proteomic methods than conventional proteomic methods. Using single-cell proteomic tools including flow cytometry, mass cytometry, microfluidics and chip technologies, chemical cytometry, single-cell western blotting, the quantity and functions of proteins are analyzed simultaneously. Aside from deciphering disease mechanisms, single-cell proteomic techniques facilitate the identification and screening of biomarkers, molecular targets and promising compounds as well. This review summarized single-cell proteomic tools and their use in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoju Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China. .,Biomedical Research Center, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
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Zhou Q, Huang SX, Zhang F, Li SJ, Liu C, Xi YY, Wang L, Wang X, He QQ, Sun CC, Li DJ. MicroRNAs: A novel potential biomarker for diagnosis and therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Cell Prolif 2017; 50. [PMID: 28990243 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is still one of the most serious causes of cancer-related deaths all over the world. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are defined as small non-coding RNAs which could play a pivotal role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Increasing evidence demonstrated dysregulation of miRNA expression associates with the development and progression of NSCLC. AIMS To emphasize a variety of tissue-specific miRNAs, circulating miRNAs and miRNA-derived exosomes could be used as potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in NSCLC patients. MATERIALS & METHODS In the current review, we paid attention to the significant discoveries of preclinical and clinical studies, which performed on tissue-specific miRNA, circulating miRNA and exosomal miRNA. The related studies were obtained through a systematic search of Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase. RESULTS A variety of tissue-specific miRNAs and circulating miRNAs with high sensitivity and specificity which could be used as potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in NSCLC patients. In addition, we emphasize that the miRNA-derived exosomes become novel diagnostic biomarkers potentially in these patients with NSCLC. CONCLUSION MiRNAs have emerged as non-coding RNAs, which have potential to be candidates for the diagnosis and therapy of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Shao-Xin Huang
- Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Shu-Jun Li
- Wuhan Hospital for the Prevention and Treatment of Occupational Diseases, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Yong-Yong Xi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qi-Qiang He
- Department of School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Cheng-Cao Sun
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - De-Jia Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
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