Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 09, 2024 3 days, 18 hours, 12 minutes ago
Medical News: Cervical cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women globally. Traditional methods such as HPV tests have helped in early detection, but for those diagnosed at advanced stages, the options are often limited, leading to higher recurrence rates. Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago-USA, Trinity Medical Sciences University (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), and Yonsei University-South Korea, have conducted a groundbreaking study, presenting miR-29a as a potential therapeutic agent in slowing cervical cancer’s progression. This
Medical News report details how this small but powerful molecule could revolutionize treatment options.
Breakthrough Study Reveals miR-29a Could Halt Cervical Cancer Spread
What is miR-29a and Why is it Important?
miR-29a is a type of microRNA that has shown promise across various cancer types, including cervical cancer. This article focuses on the ability of miR-29a to suppress the oncogene PIK3CA, which is known to promote cancer progression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, a pathway essential for cell survival and growth. By targeting PIK3CA, researchers believe miR-29a can halt cancer cell division and reduce the spread of cancer cells.
Key Findings: miR-29a’s Impact on Cancer Cells
The research team conducted a series of lab experiments to explore miR-29a’s effect on cervical cancer cells. They used RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis to measure PIK3CA’s expression at both the RNA and protein levels after introducing miR-29a to cervical cancer cells.
Significant Reduction in PIK3CA Expression
Upon introducing miR-29a, the team observed a notable decrease in PIK3CA expression. Both the RNA and protein levels of PIK3CA dropped, confirming that miR-29a effectively silenced this gene.
Decreased Cancer Cell Growth and Spread
Further experiments revealed that miR-29a impacted cell division and migration rates significantly. A wound healing assay showed that cells treated with miR-29a healed at only half the rate compared to untreated cells. Additionally, a migration test indicated that cells with increased miR-29a exhibited reduced movement, suggesting the microRNA curbed the invasive nature of these cancer cells.
Direct Binding to PIK3CA
To further confirm how miR-29a interacts with PIK3CA, a dual-luciferase assay demonstrated that miR-29a binds specifically to the PIK3CA gene, thereby destabilizing it. This binding inhibits PIK3CA from functioning properly, blocking one of cancer’s primary growth signals.
Comparative Analysis with Clinical Samples
Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), researchers compared miR-29a and PIK3CA expression levels in healthy and cancerous cervical tissue samples. Cervical cancer samples consistently showed low levels of miR-29a and high levels of PIK3CA, indicating a negative correlatio
n between the two markers. This evidence further validates miR-29a’s role as a suppressor of cancer development.
Clinical Implications: miR-29a as a Future Therapy
The potential of miR-29a extends beyond laboratory settings. As seen in clinical tissue samples, lower levels of miR-29a were associated with more aggressive forms of cervical cancer. Researchers suggest that boosting miR-29a levels could serve as a therapeutic intervention, providing an alternative or complementary treatment for patients, especially those with advanced-stage cervical cancer. Unlike some therapies that affect a wide range of cellular processes, miR-29a’s specific targeting of PIK3CA could make it a more precise, safer option.
Conclusion
This study provides compelling evidence that miR-29a could be developed into a treatment to slow down or even stop the spread of cervical cancer. By targeting the overexpression of PIK3CA, miR-29a shows great promise as a focused treatment that could eventually complement or replace existing therapies. Further research is needed to explore how miR-29a can be delivered effectively to cancer cells within the human body, but this study marks a significant step toward that goal.
The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Current Issues in Molecular Biology.
https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/754
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/traditional-chinese-medicine-breakthrough-guierbai-shows-promise-against-cervical-cancer
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-scientists-warn-that-sars-cov-2-infections-can-lead-to-rapid-progression-of-cervical-intraepithelial-neoplasia-to-cervix-cancers
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-university-of-california-study-alarmingly-finds-that-more-women-aged-65-and-above-are-dying-from-cervical-cancer
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