Summary of the 2014 MD Anderson International Meeting in Gynecologic Oncology: Emerging therapies in gynecologic cancer

摘要

The 2014 MD Anderson International Meeting in Gynecologic Oncology: Emerging Therapies in Gynecologic Cancer, held in Madrid, Spain (February 19-21,2014), brought together over 500 attendees from 26 countries. This conference report summarizes the key presentations on clinical and translational research from this meeting. RNA interference strategies in future therapeutics of ovarian cancer Since the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), there has been a huge expansion of the basic understanding of RNAi biology as well as the development of novel technologies for therapeutic applications. Conventional approaches such as small molecule inhibitors cannot be used against many targets due to a variety of factors. Also, most small molecule inhibitors lack specificity and can be associated with intolerable side effects. The use of siRNA is preferable to other approaches such as antisense oligomers due to a longer duration of target inhibition and reduced toxicity. One of the major challenges related to the use of RNAi therapeutics pertains to achieving highly efficient systemic delivery without off-target effects. We have developed biocompatible nanoparti-cle delivery systems (e.g., l,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcho-line (DOPC)) that are safe and effective. EPHARNA is an EphA2-targeted siRNA packaged into DOPC nanoliposomes, which is nearing phase I clinical testing. Additional delivery platforms such as chitosan and rHDL nanoparticles have been developed to allow unique applications for siRNA delivery such as targeting stromal genes as well as enhanced hepatic delivery.