HIGH EFFICACY ONCOLOGICAL THERAPY BASED ON MIRNA

The reintroduction of a tumor suppressor miRNA into the tumor has been proposed as a new cancer therapy, but the efficiency of this treatment is partially compromised by the low transport efficiency in vivo. Current approaches are mainly based on liposomal, polymeric and viral based vehicles, but still exhibit some toxicity. Exosomes are similar to liposomes, but their biogenesis guarantees excellent biocompatibility and low toxicity. Malignant mesothelioma is sensitive to mir-126 treatment. Mir-126, inserted inside the exosomes, is effectively incorporated by the cancer cells, but at the same time, it is eliminated by the cells themselves by releasing the exosomes. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma with an exosomal release inhibitor followed by treatment with exosomes enriched in miR-126 allows for the accumulation of miRNA in tumor cells, thus inducing massive cell death. Massive cell death (100% death in 48h) was observed by treating the tumor masses with an exosomal inhibitor (GW4869) and exo-miR-126.