Gene activation of CEBPA using saRNA: preclinical studies of the first in human saRNA drug candidate for liver cancer
File(s)Reebye V et al Oncogene_MS_2018.pdf (533.27 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Liver diseases are a growing epidemic worldwide. If unresolved, liver fibrosis develops and can lead to cirrhosis and clinical decompensation. Around 5% of cirrhotic liver diseased patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which in its advanced stages has limited therapeutic options and negative survival outcomes. CEPBA is a master regulator of hepatic function where its expression is known to be suppressed in many forms of liver disease including HCC. Injection of MTL-CEBPA, a small activating RNA oligonucleotide therapy (CEBPA-51) formulated in liposomal nanoparticles (NOV340- SMARTICLES) upregulates hepatic CEBPA expression. Here we show how MTL-CEBPA therapy promotes disease reversal in rodent models of cirrhosis, fibrosis, hepatosteatosis, and significantly reduces tumor burden in cirrhotic HCC. Restoration of liver function markers were observed in a carbon-tetrachloride-induced rat model of fibrosis following 2 weeks of MTL-CEBPA therapy. At 14 weeks, animals showed reduction in ascites and enhanced survival rates. MTL-CEBPA reversed changes associated with hepatosteatosis in non-alcoholic methionine and cholic-deficient diet-induced steaotic liver disease. In diethylnitrosamine induced cirrhotic HCC rats, MTL-CEBPA treatment led to a significant reduction in tumor burden. The data included here and the rapid adoption of MTL-CEBPA into a Phase 1 study may lead to new therapeutic oligonucleotides for undruggable diseases.
Date Issued
2018-03-07
Date Acceptance
2017-12-12
Citation
Oncogene, 2018, 37, pp.3216-3228
ISSN
0950-9232
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
3216
End Page
3228
Journal / Book Title
Oncogene
Volume
37
Copyright Statement
© Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature 2018
Sponsor
Mina Therapeutics Ltd
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29511346
PII: 10.1038/s41388-018-0126-2
Grant Number
P58698
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oncology
Cell Biology
Genetics & Heredity
CCAAT/ENHANCER-BINDING-PROTEIN
HUMAN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA
C/EBP-ALPHA
TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS
IN-VIVO
PROLIFERATION
EXPRESSION
FIBROSIS
MORTALITY
DISEASE
1112 Oncology And Carcinogenesis
1103 Clinical Sciences
Oncology & Carcinogenesis
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England