About 60000-80000 new cases of mature B cell neoplasias are diagnosed every year in Europe alone, including Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphomas (DLBCL) or Burkitt Lymphoma (BL), among others. In general, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the main forms of mature B cell neoplasia treatment but a fraction of the cancers either are refractory to these therapeutic interventions or relapse after treatment. Therefore, alternative therapeutic agents are imperative to replace or complement the current approaches. Resulting from our research funded by the BCLYM ERC Starting Grant we have identified miR-28 as a microRNA whose expression is lost in mature B cell neoplasias, such as BL, DLBCL, follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We further found that re-expression of miR-28 interfered with tumor growth and promoted the regression of established tumors.
In our HEAL-BY-MIR PoC project, we set out to explore the applicability of miR-28 as a therapeutic approach for B cell lymphoma. With that aim, we have pursued on one hand, to expand on the antitumoral activity of miR-28 and on the other, to move towards a marketable product. Our scientific activities have uncovered that miR-28 can potentiate the antitumoral activity of the conventional chemotherapeutic treatment R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, Oncovin © and prednisone). Thus, miR-28 allows reducing the concentration and the toxicity of R-CHOP treatment. In addition, we have found that administration of miR-28 in vivo is not associated to significant organ toxicity. In the management and business arena, we have reinforced our Intellectual Properties Rights, including the filing of a new patent. We have participated in several international dissemination activities and have actively sought for industrial partners in national, European and American fairs. Finally, we have developed a Full Business Plan. To sum up, with HEAL-BY-MIR we have provided proof-of-concept evidence that miR-28 is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of mature B cell lymphomas, either alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, and we have moved toward the generation of a exploitable product.
