Extremophile RNA Delivery for Radioprotection in Prostate Cancer Patients
Abstract
Prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy may experience severe debilitating short- and long-term toxicities resulting in reduced quality of life and regret of their treatment decisions. These toxicities are bystander effects based on proximity of normal organs to the treatment target and may manifest as urinary frequency, urinary obstruction, and rectal bleeding. Although there have been many attempts to mitigate these toxicities using radioprotectants, there are few clinically available radioprotectants. Newer methods to reduce the incidence of GU and GI side effects may provide substantial benefit to patients. Certain organisms in nature--known as tardigrades--have the ability to withstand extremely large doses of radiation as a result of a tardigrade-unique Dsup protein that prevents DNA damage. We propose the local delivery of mRNA for expression of the Dsup protein for radioprotection of mucosal surfaces. We hypothesize that inducing the expression of Dsup protein in normal tissues will impart a high degree of radioprotection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1190576
Entities
People
- James Byrne
Organizations
- Brigham and Women's Hospital