Therapy targeted to the metastatic niche is effective in a model of stage IV breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 21:7:45060. doi: 10.1038/srep45060.

Abstract

Treatment of stage IV metastatic breast cancer patients is limited to palliative options and represents an unmet clinical need. Here, we demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of miRNA-10b - a master regulator of metastatic cell viability - leads to elimination of distant metastases in a mouse model of metastatic breast cancer. This was achieved using the miRNA-10b inhibitory nanodrug, MN-anti-miR10b, which consists of magnetic nanoparticles, conjugated to LNA-based miR-10b antagomirs. Intravenous injection of MN-anti-miR10b into mice bearing lung, bone, and brain metastases from breast cancer resulted in selective accumulation of the nanodrug in metastatic tumor cells. Weekly treatments of mice with MN-anti-miR-10b and low-dose doxorubicin resulted in complete regression of pre-existing distant metastases in 65% of the animals and a significant reduction in cancer mortality. These observations were supported by dramatic reduction in proliferation and increase in apoptosis in metastatic sites. On a molecular level, we observed a significant increase in the expression of HOXD10, which is a known target of miRNA-10b. These results represent first steps into the uncharted territory of therapy targeted to the metastatic niche.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / administration & dosage
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Models, Biological*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Nanomedicine
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Optical Imaging
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Doxorubicin