Systemic administration of optimized aptamer-siRNA chimeras promotes regression of PSMA-expressing tumors.

Abstract

Prostate cancer cells expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have been targeted with RNA aptamer-small interfering (si)RNA chimeras, but therapeutic efficacy in vivo was demonstrated only with intratumoral injection. Clinical translation of this approach will require chimeras that are effective when administered systemically and are amenable to chemical synthesis. To these ends, we enhanced the silencing activity and specificity of aptamer-siRNA chimeras by incorporating modifications that enable more efficient processing of the siRNA by the cellular machinery. These included adding 2-nucleotide 3'-overhangs and optimizing the thermodynamic profile and structure of the duplex to favor processing of the siRNA guide strand. We also truncated the aptamer portion of the chimeras to facilitate large-scale chemical synthesis. The optimized chimeras resulted in pronounced regression of PSMA-expressing tumors in athymic mice after systemic administration. Anti-tumor activity was further enhanced by appending a polyethylene glycol moiety, which increased the chimeras' circulating half-life.

• Authors: Justin P Dassie, Xiu-Ying Liu, Gregory S Thomas, Ryan M Whitaker, Kristina W Thiel, Katie R Stockdale, David K Meyerholz, Anton P McCaffrey, James O McNamara 2nd, Paloma H Giangrande
• Journal: Nature biotechnology (Nat Biotechnol) Vol. 27 Issue 9 Pg. 839-49 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1546-1696 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19701187 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Surface
• Aptamers, Nucleotide
• Cell Cycle Proteins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• RNA, Small Interfering
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• polo-like kinase 1
• FOLH1 protein, human
• Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Surface (blood)
• Aptamers, Nucleotide (administration & dosage, genetics)
• Cell Cycle Proteins (metabolism)
• Cell Growth Processes (genetics)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (genetics)
• Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II (blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Nucleic Acid Conformation
• Prostatic Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (metabolism)
• RNA, Small Interfering (administration & dosage, genetics)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays