The University of Tokyo

Eisai Company, Limited

Chiba University

Genedesign, Inc.

Nof Corporation

Hideo Iba

Takeshi Haraguchi

Hideaki Sato

Hirokazu Nankai

Tohru Arai

Provided is a novel technique for treating cancer using structurally-reinforced S-TuD. Provided are: a composition for the prevention or treatment of tumors, said composition comprising an miRNA inhibitory complex including RNA of analog thereof; and a method for preventing or treating tumors using said composition. The miRNA inhibitory complex preferably includes at least one double-stranded structure and an miRNA-binding sequence. Two strands of the miRNA binding sequence preferably bind individually to two strands on at least one end of the double-stranded structure. According to some of the aspects of the present invention, there is provided a delivery system for delivering such an miRNA inhibitory complex.

Technique for treating cancer using structurally-reinforced S-TuD

Tumor growth was found to be significantly suppressed in vivo by inhibiting both miRNA containing 5'-AACACUG-3&#x2032; as a seed sequence and miRNA containing 5&#x2032;-AAUACUG-3&#x2032; as a seed sequence. The inhibition significantly altered the proportion of subpopulations of tumor cells and reduced the tumorigenicity in all subpopulations. The inhibition also exerted a remarkable tumor-shrinking effect on already-formed tumors. The present invention provides novel therapeutic potential against tumor.

Method for suppressing tumors by miR-200 family inhibition

The present invention pertains to the improvement of a miRNA inhibitor (a synthesized Tough Decoy (S-TuD)). The present invention provides a miRNA inhibitory complex including RNA or an analog thereof, wherein the RNA inhibitory complex includes at least one double-stranded structure and a miRNA binding sequence, each of two strands of the miRNA binding sequence being bound to two strands of at least one end of the double-stranded structure, and the miRNA inhibitory complex further includes at least one crosslinked nucleic acid.

Structurally-enhanced miRNA inhibitor S-TuD

A miRNA-inhibiting RNA complex has a double-stranded structure, in which at least one RNA strand that includes a miRNA-binding sequence is linked to the two strands at at least one end of the double-stranded structure. The complex can efficiently inhibit miRNAs. In particular, RNAs in which two RNAs containing a miRNA binding sequence are positioned between two double-stranded structures were able to strongly inhibit miRNA. These RNAs can be expressed from, for example, a PolIII promoter, and by integration into a vector, miRNAs can be stably inhibited for a long period of time.

Method for inhibiting function of micro-RNA

The present invention provides a process for preparing a retrovirus to be expressed at a high titer by specifically transferring a desired foreign gene into target cells. A pseudotyped retrovirus vector having a high titer can be prepared by transferring a DNA construction wherein a promoter, a loxP sequence, a VSV-G gene and a polyA addition signal are arranged in this order is transferred into cells carrying the retrovirus gag and pol gene expression systems, and then transferring a retrovirus vector containing the desired foreign gene thereinto, followed by the treatment with a recombinase.

Expression vector containing a drug-resistance gene having a destabilizing sequence as selection marker

The present invention provides a process for preparing a retrovirus to be expressed at a high titer by specifically transferring a desired foreign gene into target cells. A pseudotyped retrovirus vector having a high titer can be prepared by transferring a DNA construction wherein a promoter, an loxP sequence, a VSV-G gene and a polyA addition signal are arranged in this order is transferred into cells carrying the retrovirus gag and pol gene expression systems, and then transferring a retrovirus vector containing the desired foreign gene thereinto, followed by treatment with a recombinase.

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Tokyo, Japan

Hideo Iba