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Abdelaal AM, Sohal IS, Iyer SG, Sudarshan K, Orellana EA, Ozcan KE, dos Santos AP, Low PS, Kasinski AL. Selective targeting of chemically modified miR-34a to prostate cancer using a small molecule ligand and an endosomal escape agent. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102193. [PMID: 38745855 PMCID: PMC11091501 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Use of tumor-suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) as anti-cancer agents is hindered by the lack of effective delivery vehicles, entrapment of the miRNA within endocytic compartments, and rapid degradation of miRNA by nucleases. To address these issues, we developed a miRNA delivery strategy that includes (1) a targeting ligand, (2) an endosomal escape agent, nigericin and (3) a chemically modified miRNA. The delivery ligand, DUPA (2-[3-(1,3-dicarboxy propyl) ureido] pentanedioic acid), was selected based on its specificity for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a receptor routinely upregulated in prostate cancer-one of the leading causes of cancer death among men. DUPA was conjugated to the tumor suppressive miRNA, miR-34a (DUPA-miR-34a) based on the ability of miR-34a to inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation. To mediate endosomal escape, nigericin was incorporated into the complex, resulting in DUPA-nigericin-miR-34a. Both DUPA-miR-34a and DUPA-nigericin-miR-34a specifically bound to, and were taken up by, PSMA-expressing cells in vitro and in vivo. And while both DUPA-miR-34a and DUPA-nigericin-miR-34a downregulated miR-34a target genes, only DUPA-nigericin-miR-34a decreased cell proliferation in vitro and delayed tumor growth in vivo. Tumor growth was further reduced using a fully modified version of miR-34a that has significantly increased stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M. Abdelaal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Ikjot S. Sohal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Shreyas G. Iyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Esteban A. Orellana
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Kenan E. Ozcan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Andrea P. dos Santos
- Department of Comparative Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Philip S. Low
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Andrea L. Kasinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Li W(J, Wang Y, Liu X, Wu S, Wang M, Turowski SG, Spernyak JA, Tracz A, Abdelaal AM, Sudarshan K, Puzanov I, Chatta G, Kasinski AL, Tang DG. Developing Folate-Conjugated miR-34a Therapeutic for Prostate Cancer: Challenges and Promises. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2123. [PMID: 38396800 PMCID: PMC10888849 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a common cancer with high mortality in men due to its heterogeneity and the emergence of drug resistance. A critical factor contributing to its lethality is the presence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which can self-renew, long-term propagate tumors, and mediate treatment resistance. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has shown promise as an anti-PCSC therapeutic by targeting critical molecules involved in cancer stem cell (CSC) survival and functions. Despite extensive efforts, the development of miR-34a therapeutics still faces challenges, including non-specific delivery and delivery-associated toxicity. One emerging delivery approach is ligand-mediated conjugation, aiming to achieve specific delivery of miR-34a to cancer cells, thereby enhancing efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Folate-conjugated miR-34a (folate-miR-34a) has demonstrated promising anti-tumor efficacy in breast and lung cancers by targeting folate receptor α (FOLR1). Here, we first show that miR-34a, a TP53 transcriptional target, is reduced in PCa that harbors TP53 loss or mutations and that miR-34a mimic, when transfected into PCa cells, downregulated multiple miR-34a targets and inhibited cell growth. When exploring the therapeutic potential of folate-miR-34a, we found that folate-miR-34a exhibited impressive inhibitory effects on breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer cells but showed minimal effects on and targeted delivery to PCa cells due to a lack of appreciable expression of FOLR1 in PCa cells. Folate-miR-34a also did not display any apparent effect on PCa cells expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PMSA) despite the reported folate's binding capability to PSMA. These results highlight challenges in the specific delivery of folate-miR-34a to PCa due to a lack of target (receptor) expression. Our study offers novel insights into the challenges and promises within the field and casts light on the development of ligand-conjugated miR-34a therapeutics for PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen (Jess) Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
- Experimental Therapeutics (ET) Graduate Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Yunfei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Xiaozhuo Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Shan Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Moyi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Steven G. Turowski
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Joseph A. Spernyak
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Amanda Tracz
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Ahmed M. Abdelaal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kasireddy Sudarshan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Gurkamal Chatta
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Andrea L. Kasinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Dean G. Tang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (S.W.); (M.W.)
- Experimental Therapeutics (ET) Graduate Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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3
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Li WJ, Wang Y, Liu X, Wu S, Wang M, Turowski SG, Spernyak JA, Tracz A, Abdelaal AM, Sudarshan K, Puzanov I, Chatta G, Kasinski AL, Tang DG. Developing folate-conjugated miR-34a therapeutic for prostate cancer treatment: Challenges and promises. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.25.568612. [PMID: 38045265 PMCID: PMC10690264 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.25.568612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a common cancer with high mortality in men due to its heterogeneity and the emergence of drug resistance. A critical factor contributing to its lethality is the presence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which can self-renew, long-term propagate tumors and mediate treatment resistance. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has shown promise as an anti-PCSC therapeutic by targeting critical molecules involved in cancer stem cell (CSC) survival and functions. Despite extensive efforts, the development of miR-34a therapeutics still faces challenges, including non-specific delivery and delivery-associated toxicity. One emerging delivery approach is ligand-mediated conjugation, aiming to achieve specific delivery of miR-34a to cancer cells, thereby enhancing efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Folate-conjugated miR-34a (folate-miR-34a) has demonstrated promising anti-tumor efficacy in breast and lung cancers by targeting folate receptor α (FOLR1). Here, we first show that miR-34a, a TP53 transcriptional target, is reduced in PCa that harbors TP53 loss or mutations and that miR-34a mimic, when transfected into PCa cells, downregulated multiple miR-34a targets and inhibited cell growth. When exploring the therapeutic potential of folate-miR-34a, we found that folate-miR-34a exhibited impressive inhibitory effects on breast, ovarian and cervical cancer cells but showed minimal effects on and targeted delivery to PCa cells due to a lack of appreciable expression of FOLR1 in PCa cells. Folate-miR-34a also did not display any apparent effect on PCa cells expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PMSA) despite the reported folate's binding capability to PSMA. These results highlight challenges in specific delivery of folate-miR-34a to PCa due to lack of target (receptor) expression. Our study offers novel insights on the challenges and promises within the field and cast light on the development of ligand-conjugated miR-34a therapeutics for PCa.
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Tavakoli Pirzaman A, Alishah A, Babajani B, Ebrahimi P, Sheikhi SA, Moosaei F, Salarfar A, Doostmohamadian S, Kazemi S. The Role of microRNAs in Hepatocellular Cancer: A Narrative Review Focused on Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2024; 23:15330338241239188. [PMID: 38634139 PMCID: PMC11025440 DOI: 10.1177/15330338241239188] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, hepatic cancer ranks fourth in terms of cancer-related mortality and is the sixth most frequent kind of cancer. Around 80% of liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), which are the leading cause of cancer death. It is well known that HCC may develop resistance to the available chemotherapy treatments very fast. One of the biggest obstacles in providing cancer patients with appropriate care is drug resistance. According to reports, more than 90% of cancer-specific fatalities are caused by treatment resistance. By binding to the 3'-untranslated region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of noncoding RNAs which are around 17 to 25 nucleotides long, regulate target gene expression. Moreover, they play role in the control of signaling pathways, cell proliferation, and cell death. As a result, miRNAs play an important role in the microenvironment of HCC by changing immune phenotypes, hypoxic conditions, and acidification, as well as angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components. Moreover, changes in miRNA levels in HCC can effectively resist cancer cells to chemotherapy by affecting various cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and membrane transporter activity. In the current work, we narratively reviewed the role of miRNAs in HCC, with a special focus on tumor microenvironment and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Alishah
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Bahareh Babajani
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Pouyan Ebrahimi
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Seyyed Ali Sheikhi
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Farhad Moosaei
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | | | | | - Sohrab Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Sahib AS, Fawzi A, Zabibah RS, Koka NA, Khudair SA, Muhammad FA, Hamad DA. miRNA/epithelial-mesenchymal axis (EMT) axis as a key player in cancer progression and metastasis: A focus on gastric and bladder cancers. Cell Signal 2023; 112:110881. [PMID: 37666286 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The metastasis a major hallmark of tumors that its significant is not only related to the basic research, but clinical investigations have revealed that majority of cancer deaths are due to the metastasis. The metastasis of tumor cells is significantly increased due to EMT mechanism and therefore, inhibition of EMT can reduce biological behaviors of tumor cells and improve the survival rate of patients. One of the gaps related to cancer metastasis is lack of specific focus on the EMT regulation in certain types of tumor cells. The gastric and bladder cancers are considered as two main reasons of death among patients in clinical level. Herein, the role of EMT in regulation of their progression is evaluated with a focus on the function of miRNAs. The inhibition/induction of EMT in these cancers and their ability in modulation of EMT-related factors including ZEB1/2 proteins, TGF-β, Snail and cadherin proteins are discussed. Moreover, lncRNAs and circRNAs in crosstalk of miRNA/EMT regulation in these tumors are discussed and final impact on cancer metastasis and response of tumor cells to the chemotherapy is evaluated. Moreover, the impact of miRNAs transferred by exosomes in regulation of EMT in these cancers are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameer S Sahib
- Department of Pharmacy, Al- Mustaqbal University College, 51001 Hilla, Iraq
| | - Amjid Fawzi
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Iraq
| | - Rahman S Zabibah
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Nisar Ahmad Koka
- Department of English, Faculty of Languages and Translation, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | | | | | - Doaa A Hamad
- Nursing Department, Hilla University College, Babylon, Iraq
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Yao CJ, Chang CL, Hu MH, Liao CH, Lai GM, Chiou TJ, Ho HL, Kuo HC, Yang YY, Whang-Peng J, Chuang SE. Drastic Synergy of Lovastatin and Antrodia camphorata Extract Combination against PC3 Androgen-Refractory Prostate Cancer Cells, Accompanied by AXL and Stemness Molecules Inhibition. Nutrients 2023; 15:4493. [PMID: 37960146 PMCID: PMC10647293 DOI: 10.3390/nu15214493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in males worldwide. Early-stage PC patients can benefit from surgical, radiation, and hormonal therapies; however, once the tumor transitions to an androgen-refractory state, the efficacy of treatments diminishes considerably. Recently, the exploration of natural products, particularly dietary phytochemicals, has intensified in response to addressing this prevailing medical challenge. In this study, we uncovered a synergistic effect from combinatorial treatment with lovastatin (an active component in red yeast rice) and Antrodia camphorata (AC, a folk mushroom) extract against PC3 human androgen-refractory PC cells. This combinatorial modality resulted in cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and induced apoptosis, accompanied by a marked reduction in molecules responsible for cellular proliferation (p-Rb/Rb, Cyclin A, Cyclin D1, and CDK1), aggressiveness (AXL, p-AKT, and survivin), and stemness (SIRT1, Notch1, and c-Myc). In contrast, treatment with either AC or lovastatin alone only exerted limited impacts on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and the aforementioned signaling molecules. Notably, significant reductions in canonical PC stemness markers (CD44 and CD133) were observed in lovastatin/AC-treated PC3 cells. Furthermore, lovastatin and AC have been individually examined for their anti-PC properties. Our findings elucidate a pioneering discovery in the synergistic combinatorial efficacy of AC and clinically viable concentrations of lovastatin on PC3 PC cells, offering novel insights into improving the therapeutic effects of dietary natural products for future strategic design of therapeutics against androgen-refractory prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Jung Yao
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan;
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
| | - Chia-Lun Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (M.-H.H.); (G.-M.L.); (T.-J.C.); (J.W.-P.)
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Ming-Hung Hu
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (M.-H.H.); (G.-M.L.); (T.-J.C.); (J.W.-P.)
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Chien-Huang Liao
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Gi-Ming Lai
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (M.-H.H.); (G.-M.L.); (T.-J.C.); (J.W.-P.)
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Tzeon-Jye Chiou
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (M.-H.H.); (G.-M.L.); (T.-J.C.); (J.W.-P.)
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Hsien-Ling Ho
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Hui-Ching Kuo
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Ya-Yu Yang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan;
| | - Jacqueline Whang-Peng
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (M.-H.H.); (G.-M.L.); (T.-J.C.); (J.W.-P.)
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (H.-L.H.); (H.-C.K.)
| | - Shuang-En Chuang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan;
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Fu J, Imani S, Wu MY, Wu RC. MicroRNA-34 Family in Cancers: Role, Mechanism, and Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4723. [PMID: 37835417 PMCID: PMC10571940 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that play vital roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation by inhibiting mRNA translation or promoting mRNA degradation. The dysregulation of miRNA has been implicated in numerous human diseases, including cancers. miR-34 family members (miR-34s), including miR-34a, miR-34b, and miR-34c, have emerged as the most extensively studied tumor-suppressive miRNAs. In this comprehensive review, we aim to provide an overview of the major signaling pathways and gene networks regulated by miR-34s in various cancers and highlight the critical tumor suppressor role of miR-34s. Furthermore, we will discuss the potential of using miR-34 mimics as a novel therapeutic approach against cancer, while also addressing the challenges associated with their development and delivery. It is anticipated that gaining a deeper understanding of the functions and mechanisms of miR-34s in cancer will greatly contribute to the development of effective miR-34-based cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, The Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Saber Imani
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Mei-Yi Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ray-Chang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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