Protein nanoparticles for combined chemotherapy and oligonucleotide therapy in lung cancer

Alexander Evtushenko – Research Associate, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge; Ljiljana Fruk – Proffesor, Chemical Engineering and biotechnology, University of Cambridge; Eric Miska – Proffesor, Biochemistry, University of Cambridge

Introduction:

Lung cancer mortality remains high (81% death rate), necessitating novel therapies¹. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) like MNX1-AS1 and LUCAT1 are crucial oncogenic drivers, promoting metastasis and making them high-value targets for precision medicine². However, chemotherapy suffers from poor solubility³, while lncRNA-targeting oligonucleotides face low stability and uptake⁴. This study addresses these challenges by developing protein nanoparticles to co-deliver chemotherapeutics and oligonucleotides, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and overcoming delivery barriers for advanced lung cancer treatment