Saturday, 5 June 2010

Joint Study By Rosetta Genomics And NYU Langone Medical Center discovers possible MicroRNA Drug Target For Mesothelioma

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, announced today that the results of a joint study with the NYU Langone Medical Center were published on May 12th, 2010 in the online issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. The study "Pro-tumorigenic Effects of miR-31 Loss in Mesothelioma," demonstrates the potential of miR-31 to be used for the development of new therapies against mesothelioma and other cancers.

In the study, cell lines derived from mesothelioma patients were found not to express miR-31, a microRNA that has recently been characterized as a suppressor of breast cancer metastases. Functional assessment of miR-31 activity revealed its ability to inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, and clonogenicity of mesothelioma cells. Reintroduction of miR-31 suppressed cell cycle and inhibited expression of multiple factors involved in cooperative maintenance of DNA replication and cell cycle progression.

"Over the past several years, microRNAs have been hailed as one of the most significant scientific and medical discoveries. They have been described as the body's 'master switches', holding significant potential for therapeutic applications, and have been shown to be highly sensitive and specific biomarkers. This latest publication is another demonstration of microRNAs' potential role in cancer therapeutics, and details the significant impact a single microRNA can have on disease course," noted Kenneth A. Berlin, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics. "Through our commercially available diagnostic tests for cancer, as well as through a robust and diverse microRNA-based product pipeline, we aim to continue to lead in this field by harnessing the power of microRNAs to advance patient care worldwide."

Source
Rosetta Genomics
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Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to the dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Wikipedia