Combination therapy with micro RNA and therapeutic stem cells expressing TRAIL overcomes resistant brain tumor

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25861260
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurosurgery
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: TAMURA Kaoru 東京医科歯科大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (70629146)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 悪性脳腫瘍 / 幹細胞 / microRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Despite the development of new glioma therapies that allow for tumor-targeted in situ delivery of cytotoxic drugs, tumor resistance to apoptosis remains a key impediment to effective treatment. Recent evidence indicates that microRNAs, which have a central role in the regulation of gene expression, might play a fundamental role in tumorigenesis, controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that modulation of microRNA (miRX) might sensitize gliomas for cytotoxic tumor therapy. In this study, we show that the combination of miRX modulation and therapeutic stem cells expressing cytotoxic agent tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) leads to a synergistic increase in caspase activity and significantly decreased cell viability in resistant glioma in vitro and in vivo. Our findings provide the basis for developing combination therapies using microRNA modulation and therapeutic stem cells expressing cytotoxic agent.

Free Research Field

脳神経外科