TITLE:
MicroRNAs as Targets and Tools in B-Cell Lymphoma Therapy
AUTHORS:
Kalman Szenthe, Katalin Nagy, Krisztina Buzas, Hans Helmut Niller, Janos Minarovits
KEYWORDS:
MicroRNAs; B-Cell Lymphoma Therapy; Antisense Oligonucleotides; Anti-Cytokine Therapy; Epigenetic Drugs
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.4 No.3A,
March
25,
2013
ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are posttranscriptional regulators fine-tuning the level of most messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and proteins in mammalian cells. Their expression is dysregulated in neoplastic cells and upregulated or downregulated miRNAs play an important role in tumorigenesis. Changes in the miRNA transcriptome appear to be suitable markers for the differential diagnosis of various B-cell lymphoma types and there are therapeutic attempts to normalize the expression level of key cellular miRNAs involved in lymphomagenesis. In this review we wish to outline the most recent developments in the application of sophisticated, chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides and their nanoparticle complexes to suppress oncogenic miRNAs. These advances form the basis of a new therapeutic approach that may complement current protocols for B-cell lymphoma therapy. Anti-cytokine therapy aiming at the removal of cytokines that activate key oncomirs, and switching on silenced tumor suppressor miRNAs by epigenetic drugs might also be considered, on the long run, in the treatment of well defined B-cell lymphoma types.