Debora Mazzetti, MS, on Multitargeting MicroRNA in Glioblastoma

Commentary
Video

The research trainee at Brigham and Women’s Hospital discussed developing RNA constructs to aid with RNA interference.

“The idea is to create in a translational point of view, a platform that could apply to different tumor targeting, specifically the different microRNAs that are down regulated and upregulated in those tumors. So, in our case, we are trying to upregulate 3 of the main downregulated microRNA in the gliblastoma, and at the same time trying to decrease the oncomirs like oncomir 21, and other proteins that are related to the progression of tumors.”

RNA interference may hold potential for tumor multitargeting. New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital is exploring improving the efficacy and ease of use of RNA interference by developing noncoding, RNA constructs. These constructs can be fit with multiple microRNAs, microRNA sponges and RNA aptamers, each with specific targeting functions.

Feasibility data on the RNA constructs in were presented at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 27th Annual Meeting, held May 7 to 10, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland, by Debora Mazzetti, MS, research trainee at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

CGTLive® spoke with Mazzetti to learn more about the potential of RNA constructs in oncological targeting. She shared how she joined the lab of Pier Paolo Peruzzi, MD, PhD at Harvard and discussed their goal of multitargeting downregulated microRNAs in glioblastoma (GBM). She also spoke about further research that the lab is planning to pursue, including improving the RNA constructs to be able to add more targets and target more pathways in GBM.

Click here to read more coverage of the 2024 ASGCT Meeting.

REFERENCE
Mazzetti D, Mineo M, Gaiaschi L, et al. Engineering of a Nucleic Acid Platform to Augment RNA Mediated Therapy. Presented at: ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting, May 7-10; Baltimore, Maryland. Abstract #443
Recent Videos
Georg Schett, MD, vice president research and chair of internal medicine at the University of Erlangen – Nuremberg
David Barrett, JD, the chief executive officer of ASGCT
Bhagirathbhai R. Dholaria, MD, an associate professor of medicine in malignant hematology & stem cell transplantation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Caroline Diorio, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, an attending physician at the Cancer Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
R. Nolan Townsend; Sandi See Tai, MD; Kim G. Johnson, MD
Daniela van Eickels, MD, PhD, MPH, the vice president and head of medical affairs for Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cell Therapy Organization
Paul Melmeyer, MPP, the executive vice president of public policy & advocacy at MDA
Daniela van Eickels, MD, PhD, MPH, the vice president and head of medical affairs for Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cell Therapy Organization
Arun Upadhyay, PhD, the chief scientific officer and head of research, development, and Medical at Ocugen
Related Content
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.