Nanotechnology Targets Brain Cancer Stem Cells

Nanoparticles combined with genetic treatments hold particular promise for brain cancer. Micro-RNA (miRNA) nanoparticles silence certain cancer-cell genes, preventing growth. For this purpose, in June 2018, Nano Letterspublished a study designing miRNA-filled nanoparticles that successfully targeted brain cancer stem cells in mouse models.

• What Are Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine? A Brief Overview, Uses and Examples

Brain cancer is among the cancers with the best-understood genetic structures. Yet few treatments exist, due to the blood–brain barrier and cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cellscan produce cancer cells with different genetic structures and are responsible for drug resistance and metastasis. Effective brain cancer treatment requires crossing the blood–brain barrier and targeting these stem cells.

Micro-RNA Nanoparticles

John Hopkins Hospital researchers in the USA developed micro-RNA-filled nanoparticles made from biodegradable material. At 1000 times smaller than a human hair, they resemble molecules cells use to communicate. They contain microRNAs targeting HGMA1 and DNMT. miRNAs bind carrier RNAs, blocking genes' protein production capacity. The study used miRNAs to try to block cancer stem cells' unlimited growth capacity.

• What Is RNA and What Does It Do? Use in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

To test nanoparticles, researchers injected 18 mice with human glioblastoma (GBM) cells.

They waited 45 days for established tumors, seeking results closest to clinical conditions. Half received nanoparticle-miRNA treatment; the other half received nanoparticles with inactive miRNA. Mouse immune systems were suppressed to see treatment effects more clearly.

According to the Results;

• Of the 9 mice receiving nanoparticle-miRNA, 3 lived up to 80 days, and the remaining 6 survived 133 days.
• Of the 9 mice receiving inactive miRNA, 5 died within 2 months.
• All control mice had large tumors. Treated mice had a few small tumors, and in most the tumors disappeared.

What Does This Study Mean for Us?

• A new strategy was developed against difficult-to-treat brain cancers. Nanoparticles crossing the blood–brain barrier delivered effective gene treatment.
• Most genetic drugs target only one gene. This approach uses miRNAs to target varying numbers of genes and their relationships.
• It must be emphasized that these studies were tested in the laboratory. Further clinical trialsmust confirm them.
• Innovations in Brain Tumor Treatment – 2017 and 2018