A MicroRNA therapy has been developed for the purpose of increasing the chemo- and radio-sensitivity of tumor cells in Medulloblastoma. The invention would allow for lower dosages of radiation and chemotherapy by working synergistically with these therapies, thus reducing adverse side effects. It may also lead to more complete eradication of the tumor cells, improving quality of life, long term recurrence rates and survival rates.
Background:
Medulloblastoma is a malignant brain tumor with the primary tumor occurring in the cerebellum, a region of the brain at the base of the skull, and may also spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. Medulloblastoma principally affects children younger than 16, with 70% of cases occurring in children under 10. It is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in children, accounting for approximately 20% of pediatric brain tumors.
The current standard of care involves the surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The dosage of radiation and chemotherapy is dependent upon the amount of tumor that is successfully resected. These treatments can have devastating neurological side effects that substantially reduce the quality of life for all surviving patients.
This therapeutic has been tested in vitro in multiple Medulloblastoma model cell lines and has shown strong positive synergistic properties. It has also been tested in vivo using a xenograft mouse model and it exhibited significant positive effects. The current oncological space is lacking in regard to Medulloblastoma due to high toxicities or low efficacies of current therapies; this treatment would improve both aspects, improving the overall quality of care.
Commercial Applications & Advantages:
The invention provides an improvement over the current standard of care for pediatric brain cancers by providing the following advantages:
- Increased tumor cell sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy treatments
- Lower dosages of radiation and chemotherapy required, thus reducing adverse side effects
- More complete eradication of tumor cells resulting in an improvement in the long term recurrence and survival rates