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Local research team develops RNA-based microbial anticancer drug
  • By Marian Chu
  • Published 2018.07.24 12:09
  • Updated 2018.07.24 12:09
  • comments 0

A domestic research team has successfully developed an RNA-based microorganism that has an anticancer effect against colon cancer. RNA-based medical technology has been widely used for cancer target treatment, but there were limits in delivering selective RNA to cancer cells.

Salmonella vaccine strain delivering RNA anticancer agent

Professor Yoon Won-suck from Korea University College of Medicine, Allergy Immunology Center, and Professor Kim Byung-mo from Yonsei University College of Medicine led the research team.

The research team focused on the fact that Salmonella, developed as a vaccine against food poisoning bacteria, grows intensively in the vicinity of cancer cells. It then developed a new target microorganism for targeted treatment that efficiently delivers small interfering RNA anticancer drugs and induces anti-cancer effects.

In the study, researchers discovered that the INHIBIN ALPHA gene, which is expressed relatively highly in patients with colorectal cancer, is associated with cancer suppression. The researchers also developed two small interfering RNA types used to target and treat the INHIBIN ALPHA gene, confirming the efficacy of the cancer cell treatment.

The researchers injected RNA-based microbial anticancer drugs into experimental mice transplanted with colon cancer to induce toxicity to the cancer cells. As a result, the survival rate of the mice injected with the RNA-based microbial anticancer drug was more than 60 percent. Meanwhile, the other mice all died after 70 days.

“The study proves that Salmonella, which delivers small interfering RNAs that inhibit the INHIBIN ALPHA gene, has an excellent effect in killing cancer cells without posing any side effects,” Korea University Medical Center said. “It also confirmed that it directly affects colon cancer as well as killing skin cancer cells.”

Professor Yoon also said, "RNA-based anticancer drugs using microbial technology can be widely used for diagnosis and treatment. Various cancer cells are also found in diseases such as colorectal and skin cancer. We hope this study will contribute significantly to improved and safer treatment for patients who have colorectal cancer.”

However, a separate study that studies separate patient characteristics is needed due to a vast difference disease patterns and onset according to race, he added.

The study, titled “Therapeutic advantage of genetically engineered Salmonella typhimurium carrying short hairpin RNA against inhibin alpha subunit in cancer treatment,” was published in the Annals of Oncology.

yjc@docdocdoc.co.kr

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