Rosetta Genomics, Ltd and the NYU Langone Medical Center recently published a joint study called the “Pro-tumorigenic Effects of miR-31 Loss in Mesothelioma” that suggests that the use of miR-31 might be a viable therapeutic treatment to suppress tumors in mesothelioma patients.
In the study, mesothelioma patients were found to lack miR-31, a microRNA recently found to suppress breast cancer metastases. Introduction of miR-31 to the mesothelioma patients in the study suppressed growth, migration and invasion of cancerous cells.
In the future, therapies involving miR-31 and other microRNAs may add years to the life of cancer patients by slowing the advance of the cancerous cells without damaging healthy tissues. It is important to note that there is often a long wait between scientific studies and marketable therapies approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for use on patients.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the thoracic cavity. It is linked to occupational asbestos exposure.