Targeted delivery of C/EBP alpha-saRNA by RNA aptamers shows anti-tumor effects in a mouse model of advanced PDAC
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies; it preferentially metastasizes to the liver and is the main cause of death from this disease. In previous studies, small activating RNA against CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα-saRNA) demonstrated efficacy of PDAC in a local subcutaneous tumor model. In this study, we focused on the efficacy of C/EBPα-saRNA in advanced stage PDAC. For targeted delivery, we selected a new anti-transferrin receptor aptamer (TR14), which demonstrated a high binding affinity to target proteins. The TR14 aptamer was internalized with clathrin-mediated endocytosis, distributed in early endosome, late endosome, and lysosome subcellularly. To investigate its anti-tumor effects to advanced PDAC, we conjugated C/EBPα-saRNA to TR14. Treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with the conjugates upregulated expression of C/EBPα and its downstream target p21, and inhibited cell proliferation. For in vivo assays, we established an advanced PDAC mouse model by engrafting luciferase reporter-PANC-1 cells directly into the livers of non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. After treatment of aptamer-C/EBPα conjugates, we observed significant reduction of tumor growth in this advanced PDAC mouse model. Combinational treatment of the conjugates with gemcitabine also demonstrated enhanced anti-tumor effects in advanced PDAC. This suggests that aptamer-C/EBPα conjugates could be used as an adjuvant, along with other conventional anti-cancer drugs in advanced PDAC. In conclusion, targeted delivery of C/EBPα-saRNAs by aptamers might have potential therapeutic effects in advanced PDAC.
Date Issued
2019-12-06
Date Acceptance
2019-08-14
Citation
Molecular Therapy : Nucleic Acids, 2019, 18, pp.142-154
ISSN
2162-2531
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
142
End Page
154
Journal / Book Title
Molecular Therapy : Nucleic Acids
Volume
18
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Authors.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Sponsor
Mina Therapeutics Ltd
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000500716400014&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
P58698
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Research & Experimental Medicine
IN-VITRO SELECTION
PANCREATIC-CANCER
TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR
SYSTEMATIC EVOLUTION
THERAPEUTIC AGENTS
BINDING
LIGANDS
PROTEIN
EXPRESSION
CARCINOMA
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-08-22