Targeting Highly Tumor-specific Long Non-coding RNAs for Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy

Cancer is a complex disease, one whose pathology can involve many genetic mutations over time. Better understanding of the mechanisms associated with these genetic changes would aid the development of novel and effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools for the fight against cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are genetic regulatory molecules associated with cancer occurrence and progression, representing attractive therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. Understanding the role of lncRNAs in the development and progression of cancer may lead to better tools for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Description

Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh have identified a group of cancer-related lncRNAs as novel biomarkers of cancer. In addition, they developed methods of detecting and inhibiting these molecules in cancer cells. Researchers paired the detection of these lncRNAs with genetic and clinical data from 1,023 breast tumor samples and 24 breast cancer cell lines. By integrating the lncRNA profile with clinical outcome data, investigators have concluded that these lncRNAs are important players of tumorigenesis and clinical prognosis. Among the 2,123 lncRNAs identified, one in particular appears to have higher expression in nine different cancer types including breast cancer. Inhibition of these lncRNA in breast cancer cells led to cell death, suggesting therapeutic potential in treating breast cancer.

Applications

· Characterizing cancer biomarkers
· Developing therapeutic tools to regulate lncRNAs involved in cancer development and progression

Advantages

· Effective and inexpensive method to identify cancer-driving lncRNAs

Invention Readiness

In vitro data

IP Status

https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2019165212A1

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