Researchers at the Pascale
Institute in Naples have discovered that a miRNA class molecule
plays an important role in the progression of malignant
melanoma, it emerged on Monday.
The scientists led by Gennaro Ciliberto and Paolo Ascierto
have shown that miR-579-3p acts as a tumor suppressor.
As such, it is present in large quantities in normal cells
but expression levels decrease as the melanoma becomes more
aggressive and even further in cell lines resistant to BRAF/MEK
inhibitors.
The miR-579-3p molecule controls the production of two
important proteins called oncogenes that promote tumor growth.
As miR-579-3p levels fall, levels of the oncogenes
increase.
However, if the molecule is administered to the tumor cells
from outside the levels of the oncogenes decrease and the cells
start to die.
In addition, the administration of miR-579-3p together with
BRAF/MEK inhibitors prevents the formation of drug-resistant
cells.
"These results lead to the possibility of using miR-579-3p
as a drug to improve current therapies," Ciliberto said.
"Further, it will be possible to measure miR blood levels
as a new biomarker for early prediction of the evolution of the
disease and the development of resistance to therapies," he
added.
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