Aptamers for the development of RNA-based therapies against Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Multiple Myeloma (MM), the cancer affecting bone-marrow plasma cells, remains largely incurable. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proposed as therapeutic targets for MM treatment. However, classical protein targeted therapeutic approaches such as small molecules or antibodies are not useful for their modulation, therefore, this project proposes the development of RNA-based therapies for their targeting. With that aim, we have identified RNA aptamers able to recognize and internalize specifically into MM cells, and we will conjugate them to therapeutic oligonucleotides able to silence RNA molecules involved in MM development. As the treatment will only affect MM cells, we expect to increase specificity while reducing off-target effects.