Tech Spotlight: Improved Treatment of Brain Tumors using MicroRNA

A research team at the University of Colorado led by Rajeev Vibhakar has discovered that a specific microRNA has growth-suppressive activity in medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. While medulloblastoma outcomes have improved, there is significant therapy-related morbidity: while chemotherapy can significantly reduce risk of recurrence, which is typically fatal, most chemotherapeutic agents kill both tumor and normal cells, resulting in various side effects.

Dr. Vibhakar’s work provide methods for treating cancer by inhibiting Bmi-1 by using miRNA128. Bmi-1 is believed to be necessary for cell regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells as well as peripheral and central nervous system neural stem cells. Bmi-1 is also thought to inhibit ageing in neurons, as well as also playing a role in several other types of cancer, such as bladder, skin, prostate, breast, ovarian, colorectal as well as hematological malignancies. Accordingly, Dr. Vibhakar’s work demonstrates the utility for treating these cancers by inhibiting Bmi-1 using miRNA128. This approach has the potential to be more efficacious than conventional chemotherapy, and to produce fewer side effects.

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