A team of scientists from Agency of Science Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) has discovered a class of small RNA molecules known as oncomiRs, which helps trigger lung cancer.
The discovery assists the researchers with providing new insight into understanding therapy resistance in lung cancer, along with introducing new avenues to monitor, as well as treat the disease more effectively.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The team conducted a study that demonstrated rare cancer stem cells within tumours are capable of resisting conventional therapies, thereby being largely responsible for relapse in lung cancer patients.
Since oncomiRs are the main drivers of cancer stem cell growth, the application of therapies that can obliterate the oncomiRs also enable killing of the cancer stem cells.
The GIS researchers administered a new class of therapeutics called locked nucleic acid (LNA) that can work against oncomiRs in the cancer stem cells.
After successfully testing the method in mice models, the research team is currently working to develop the method into a drug that can be provided to the patients through collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.
GIS cancer therapeutics and stratified oncology senior research scientist and the study co-lead author Dr Tam Wai Leong said: "We are interested in developing this detection method into a companion diagnostic that can improve disease tracking and provide real-time information on tumour progression.
"In addition, we hope to be able to overcome the clinical problem of tumours that develop resistance to therapy by understanding the key drivers of lung cancer, so as to develop new ways to improve the durability of patient response and improve health outcomes."
The scientists also discovered that oncomiRs can be detected in the blood of a patient through liquid biopsy, which is minimally invasive and less time consuming compared to traditional tissue biopsy.
The biopsy levels determine whether a patient would respond well to conventional therapies or would succumb to the disease.
Real-time tracking of oncomiR levels in the blood of a patient receiving standard-of-care treatment allows the researchers to monitor the patient's response and help them predict any recurrence and metastasis.
Image: GIS scientists discover a new way to track and treat lung cancer by targetting cancer stem cells. Photo: courtesy of Genome Institute of Singapore.
