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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
MiR-197 Inhibitor Loaded AbCD133@MSNs@GNR Affects the Development of Prostate Cancer Through Targeting ITGAV
Guanqun Ju1, Yingjian Zhu2, Tao Du3
1Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Prostate cancer is one of the most severe male malignant tumors, which ranks second in mortality rate among all tumors. Traditional methods of treatment for prostate cancer produce obvious side effects and a high recurrence rate. Cancer stem cells are considered to be a group of cells that determine the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance of tumor. Prostate cancer therapy based on microRNAs and prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) has been a research hot spot in this field. Previous studies have reported that miR-197 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer, but the molecular mechanism of miR-197 on the development of prostate cancer has not been reported yet. In this study, we verified that miR-197 is significantly overexpressed in prostate cancer tissues and prostate cancer cells. Then, we verified that miR-197 expression affects the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of prostate cancer cells by regulating integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV) expression through STAT5 pathway, and the results indicated that the miR-197 inhibitor can be a prostate cancer suppressor. Then we synthesized the AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor drug carrier, in which 35.42 μg of the miR-197 inhibitor could be loaded in 1 mg of AbCD133@GNR@MSNs. The AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor demonstrated good photothermal properties and photothermal controlled-release properties. The modified CD133 antibodies on the surface of the nano drug carrier helped more drug carriers to enter the PCSCs. The pharmacodynamic effects of the AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor on PCSCs in vivo and in vitro were studied under near-infrared radiation. The results showed that the AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor prepared in this study could not only significantly suppress the development of PCSCs through ITGAV/STAT5 pathway but also significantly suppress the growth of PCSC solid tumors. In short, our study verified that miR-197 regulates the development of PCSCs through STAT5 pathway by targeting ITGAV, and the AbCD133@MSNs@GNR@miR-197 inhibitor could be a potential suppressor used in prostate cancer treatment. In short, our study found that miR-197 affected the development of prostate cancer by regulating ITGAV. The AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor prepared in this study could suppress the development and growth of PCSCs in vitro and in solid tumors not only by targeting the ITGAV but also through photothermal therapy. Our study not only provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of prostate cancer but also provides a research scheme of drug loading and microRNA-based photothermal controlled therapy for prostate cancer.
Insights
This study reveals that overexpressed miR-197 drives prostate cancer progression by regulating ITGAV via the STAT5 pathway. A novel nano-drug carrier delivering a miR-197 inhibitor shows promise for prostate cancer stem cell therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of male cancer mortality, with conventional treatments facing challenges of side effects and recurrence.
- Prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) are implicated in PCa proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs), specifically miR-197, have emerged as critical players in PCa development, though their precise mechanisms remain under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism of miR-197 in prostate cancer development and progression.
- To develop and evaluate a novel nanodrug delivery system for targeted inhibition of miR-197 in PCSCs.
- To assess the therapeutic potential of this system in combination with photothermal therapy for prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of miR-197 expression in PCa tissues and cells.
- Investigation of miR-197's role in PCSC proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by targeting integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV) through the STAT5 pathway.
- Synthesis and characterization of a CD133 antibody-modified gold nanorod-mesoporous silica nanoparticle (AbCD133@GNR@MSNs) drug carrier loaded with a miR-197 inhibitor.
Main Results:
- miR-197 was found to be significantly overexpressed in prostate cancer, promoting cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by regulating ITGAV expression via the STAT5 pathway.
- The synthesized AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor exhibited efficient drug loading, good photothermal properties, and controlled release.
- In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the nano-drug carrier effectively suppressed PCSC development and solid tumor growth under near-infrared radiation, targeting ITGAV and utilizing photothermal therapy.
Conclusions:
- miR-197 plays a crucial role in regulating prostate cancer stem cell development through the ITGAV/STAT5 pathway.
- The developed AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor represents a promising therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer, combining targeted drug delivery with photothermal therapy.
- This study provides a novel approach for miRNA-based photothermal controlled therapy and drug loading for prostate cancer treatment.
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