Exousia Pro, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has reported significant findings in their ongoing glioblastoma (GBM) study, revealing that inhibiting NANOG expression substantially enhances the efficacy of standard chemotherapy treatment. The research demonstrates a promising new approach to treating one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
Dr. Marvin Hausman, Chief Science Officer at Exousia Pro, disclosed during a recent interview that published research shows NANOG expression inhibition therapy effectively reduces the resistance of cancer stem cells in glioblastoma. The findings indicate a potentially groundbreaking advancement in GBM treatment.
Enhanced Efficacy Through Combination Therapy
According to the published paper, when temozolomide (TMZ), the current standard-of-care chemotherapy for GBM, was used alone at its highest concentration, it eliminated less than 20% of glioblastoma cells. However, when researchers treated GBM cells with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting either NANOG or OCT4 in combination with TMZ, they observed significantly higher levels of cell death compared to TMZ monotherapy.
"The inhibition of NANOG or OCT4 increased the efficacy of TMZ," explained Dr. Hausman, highlighting the potential of this combination approach to overcome the notorious resistance mechanisms of glioblastoma cells.
The full research paper is available in the public domain through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
Executive Response to Findings
Matt Dwyer, President of Exousia Pro, expressed enthusiasm about the research results: "I was listening to the Spaces interview and couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had no clue this information existed. I know the current study and its findings, but this was mind-blowing."
The excitement surrounding these findings stems from the historically poor prognosis for glioblastoma patients. GBM is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with a median survival of approximately 15 months despite maximal safe surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with TMZ.
Exosome Technology Platform
Exousia Pro's approach leverages exosome technology, which represents a novel method for drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier—a significant challenge in treating brain cancers. The company utilizes a patented manufacturing process that creates exosomes from plant-based materials, which can be loaded with various therapeutic molecules including drugs and DNA.
This technology platform potentially addresses several limitations of conventional cancer treatments, including targeted delivery to tumor cells and reduced systemic toxicity.
Clinical Implications
The findings have substantial clinical implications for glioblastoma treatment. By targeting NANOG, a transcription factor involved in maintaining the stemness and self-renewal capabilities of cancer stem cells, the therapy addresses one of the primary mechanisms of treatment resistance and tumor recurrence in GBM.
Cancer stem cells are a subpopulation of tumor cells that possess stem cell-like properties and are often resistant to conventional therapies. They are believed to be responsible for tumor initiation, progression, and recurrence after treatment. By specifically targeting these cells through NANOG inhibition, Exousia Pro's approach may offer a more effective strategy for long-term tumor control.
Future Directions
While these findings are promising, they represent early-stage research in the development pipeline. Exousia Pro continues to advance its clinical studies to further validate these results and determine the optimal therapeutic regimen for patients with glioblastoma.
The company's broader mission involves developing new ways to exploit the therapeutic potential of exosomes across various oncology applications. Their proprietary loading technology enables the infusion of a range of molecules, potentially expanding the application of this platform to other difficult-to-treat cancers and diseases.
As research progresses, the medical community will be watching closely to see if this novel approach can translate into meaningful clinical benefits for patients facing the devastating diagnosis of glioblastoma.
