Nanoparticles: Tiny Helpers Slowing Down Multiple Myeloma with RNA
Tiny particles called nanoparticles are used to transport special molecules called small interfering RNA (siRNA) to help slow down the progression of a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. These nanoparticles act like delivery vehicles to bring the siRNA to the right place in the body and help fight against the cancer cells.
A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia utilized siRNA-based inhibition of cyclophilin A (CyPA) protein to decrease the number of tumors and prolong the survival of individuals diagnosed with multiple myeloma-a type of cancer that affects plasma cells or white blood cells the ones that produce antibodies.
The scientists described in their publication titled “In vivo, bone marrow microenvironment siRNA delivery using lipid-polymer nanoparticles for multiple myeloma therapy,” which appeared in PNAS, a specific nanoparticle system designed to deliver nucleic acid treatments to bone marrow endothelial cells with a therapeutic payload.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a type of blood cancer originating in the bone marrow and can also develop tumors in organs outside the bone marrow (known as an extramedullary disease). Although MM is treatable, it is considered incurable, as patients inevitably experience relapse after treatment and typically have short survival rates ranging from 3 to 6 months due to the development of treatment resistance.
In simple terms, the cells that line the blood vessels within the bone marrow are believed to have an important role. These cells produce a protein called cyclophilin A (CyPA), which is involved in the growth, survival, and resistance to chemotherapy of cancer cells in the bone marrow. Blocking the activity of CyPA could potentially slow down the progression of multiple myeloma (MM) and make MM cells more susceptible to chemotherapy. However, it is challenging to deliver the inhibiting substances directly to the cells in the blood vessels of the bone marrow.
Read The Original Article: Nanoparticles Deliver Small Interfering RNA To Slow Multiple Myeloma
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