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, Chair of 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