Downregulation of PIK3CA via antibody-esiRNA-complexes suppresses human xenograft tumor growth

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nicole Bäumer - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Jan Rehkämper - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Neele Appel - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Lisa Terheyden - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Wolfgang Hartmann - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Eva Wardelmann - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Frank Buchholz - , University Cancer Centre Dresden, University Cancer Centre Dresden, Medical Systems Biology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Carsten Müller-Tidow - , University of Münster, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Wolfgang E. Berdel - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Sebastian Bäumer - , University of Münster (Author)

Abstract

Precision cancer therapy requires on the one hand detailed knowledge about a tumor’s driver oncogenes and on the other hand an effective targeted therapy that specifically inhibits these oncogenes. While the determination of genomic landscape of a tumor has reached a very precise level, the respective therapy options are scarce. The application of small inhibitory (si) RNAs is a promising field of investigation. Here, we present the effective in vivo-treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) xenograft tumors with antibody-complexed, endoribonuclease-prepared small inhibitory (esi)RNAs. We chose heterogeneous endoribo-nuclease-prepared siRNA pools (esiRNAs) against the frequently mutated genes PIK3CA and KRAS and coupled them to the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab, which was internalized specifically into the tumor cells. esiRNA pools have been shown to exhibit superior specificity in target gene knockdown compared to classic siRNAs. We identified a significant decrease in tumor growth upon this treatment due to decreased tumor cell proliferation. The ex vivo-analysis of the xenograft CRC tumors revealed the expected downregulation of the intended direct targets PIK3CA and KRAS on protein level. Moreover, known downstream targets for EGFR signaling such as p-ERK, p-AKT, and c-MYC were decreased as well. We therefore propose the use of antibody-esiRNA complexes as a novel experimental treatment option against key components of the EGFR signaling cascade.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0200163
JournalPloS one
Volume13
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 30001368