The delivery of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) self-amplifying mRNA via modified lipid nanoparticles as a potential treatment for drug-resistant and metastatic cancers.

The protein, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), a tumor suppressor, is significantly decreased or absent in many types of cancer. There is a significant negative correlation between the levels of NDRG2 and the development and progression of cancer tumor recurrence and tumor invasion, in different cancers. In contrast, the in vitro and in vivo overexpression of the NDRG2 protein decreases the proliferation, growth, adhesion and migration of many types of cancer cells. The in vitro overexpression of NDRG2 increases the efficacy of certain anticancer drugs in specific types of cancer cells. We hypothesize that the delivery of the mRNA of the NDRG2 protein, encapsulated by lipid nanoparticles, could represent a potential treatment of metastatic and drug-resistant cancers. This would be accomplished using a self-amplifying mRNA that encodes the NDRG2 protein and an RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase, obtained from an in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA. The IVT mRNA would be encapsulated in a lipid nanoformulation. The efficacy of the nanoformulation would be determined in cultured cancer cells and if the results are positive, nude mice transplanted with either drug-resistant or metastatic drug-resistant cancer cells, would be treated with the nano- formulation and monitored for efficacy and adverse effects. If the appropriate preclinical studies indicate this formulation is efficacious and safe, it is possible it could be evaluated in clinical trials.