| Micro-RNAs May Offer New Way to Fight Mesothelioma |
The next step was to
determine whether restoring miR-15/16 inside cells could help the body
to fight mesothelioma. To test this, researchers injected synthetic miR
mimics packaged in “minicells” into the mesothelioma-bearing mice.
The results were encouraging. Not only did restoring miR-15/16 expression inhibit the growth of mesothelioma cells, but it also appeared to make them more sensitive to chemotherapy with pemetrexed and gemcitabine, two of the most popular first-line drugs for mesothelioma. According to the report, injections of the miR-15/16 mimics led to “consistent and dose-dependent inhibition of malignant pleural mesothelioma tumor growth”. The team concludes that this miRNA-targeting method may offer a new way to combat this aggressive cancer.
Mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is a major problem in Australia, which has one of the highest rates of the disease in the world. Because the early stages of the disease usually occur years after exposure and produce very few symptoms, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it is in its advanced stages, making treatment even more challenging. Australia has banned the mining, use and importation of asbestos products, but continues to pay a heavy price – in the form of mesothelioma, asbestos and other diseases – for decades of asbestos use.
The results were encouraging. Not only did restoring miR-15/16 expression inhibit the growth of mesothelioma cells, but it also appeared to make them more sensitive to chemotherapy with pemetrexed and gemcitabine, two of the most popular first-line drugs for mesothelioma. According to the report, injections of the miR-15/16 mimics led to “consistent and dose-dependent inhibition of malignant pleural mesothelioma tumor growth”. The team concludes that this miRNA-targeting method may offer a new way to combat this aggressive cancer.
Mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is a major problem in Australia, which has one of the highest rates of the disease in the world. Because the early stages of the disease usually occur years after exposure and produce very few symptoms, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it is in its advanced stages, making treatment even more challenging. Australia has banned the mining, use and importation of asbestos products, but continues to pay a heavy price – in the form of mesothelioma, asbestos and other diseases – for decades of asbestos use.
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