Antisense Modulation of RNA Processing as a Therapeutic Approach in Cancer Therapy

Lee Spraggon1, Luca Cartegni1

  • 1Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.

Insights

Next-generation antisense technologies offer new treatments for genetic diseases and cancer. These advanced methods reprogram gene expression to combat drug resistance and target previously undruggable conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Next-generation antisense technologies are gaining traction for treating genetic disorders.
  • These strategies are also being explored for novel cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of antisense technologies in reprogramming gene expression for therapeutic benefit.
  • To explore the application of these technologies in overcoming challenges in cancer treatment, such as drug resistance and targeting previously intractable targets.

Main Methods:

  • Interfering with alternative splicing processes.
  • Modulating polyadenylation of messenger RNA.
  • Developing functional antagonists for endogenous oncogenic products.

Main Results:

  • Antisense strategies show promise in reprogramming oncogene expression.
  • These approaches can potentially yield functional antagonists.
  • The methods address acquired drug resistance and previously undruggable targets in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Next-generation antisense technologies represent a powerful therapeutic approach for genetic diseases and cancer.
  • Reprogramming gene expression via splicing or polyadenylation interference offers a novel strategy for challenging medical conditions.

Related Concept Videos

Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
8.4K
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
29.0K
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

7.9K
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
19.1K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.4K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
25.1K