Researchers at the University of Ottawa have potentially discovered a groundbreaking approach to treat complex diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. Their innovative strategy combines the power of mRNA and RNAi therapies, delivered through specialized nanoparticles, to manipulate gene expression for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
mRNA technology, popularized by its application in COVID-19 vaccines, works by delivering instructions to cells to produce specific proteins. This can be used to replace missing proteins or introduce therapeutic ones.
On the other hand, RNAi, a natural defense mechanism against foreign genes, can be used to silence specific genes and prevent the production of harmful proteins.
While both technologies hold immense potential, cancer’s complexity often requires a multi-targeted approach that addresses issues like tumor suppressor gene mutations, drug resistance, and tumor recurrence. The University of Ottawa team believes their new approach can tackle these challenges simultaneously.
Their study, published in ACS Nanoscience Au, demonstrates the successful delivery of both mRNA and siRNA (small interfering RNA) in both in vivo (in living organisms) and in vitro (in laboratory settings) models. This achievement allows them to selectively enhance or interfere with gene and protein expressions to improve therapeutic outcomes.

In cancer treatment, this means:

• Restoring tumor suppressor gene expressions like PTEN and P53, which help control cell growth and prevent tumor development.
• Enhancing the production of tumor antigens, which can boost the body’s immune response against cancer cells (immunotherapy).
• Simultaneously targeting genes/proteins responsible for drug resistance and cancer stem cell development, which contribute to treatment failure and tumor recurrence.

This novel approach offers several advantages:

• Synergistically promoting antitumoral factors while minimizing protumoral factors, leading to more effective cancer treatment.
• Addressing multiple challenges associated with complex diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease in a single treatment.
• Potential for personalized therapy by tailoring the combination of mRNA and siRNA molecules to target specific disease mechanisms in individual patients.

While the research is still in its early stages, the team is optimistic about its potential. They plan to further investigate the effects of these nanoparticles containing therapeutic mRNA and siRNA in clinically translatable animal models. The ultimate goal is to translate this groundbreaking discovery into novel therapies that can significantly improve the lives of patients suffering from cancer and other complex diseases.

Source.