Nanotherapeutic Containing Micro-RNA 122 Wards Off Metastasis to Liver in Mouse Model

Physician researchers from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center have developed an innovative nanotherapeutic drug that prevents cancer from spreading to the liver in mice. The new liver-specific microRNA drug, developed by a team led by Andrew Wang, MD, is a promising candidate for drug companies that developed messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for COVID-19, because of similarities in these RNA agents. “This might be one ray of hope that comes out of the pandemic,” said Dr. Wang, Professor, Radiation Oncology, and senior author of a rodent-based study published in the January 2022 issue of Cancer Research. The article is titled “Nanoparticle Delivery of miR-122 Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis.”