Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

The pivotal role of H19 in human tumorigenesis - Novel approach in cancer therapy

4^th International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy

August 10-12, 2015 London, UK

Michal Gilon

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Stem Cell Res Ther

Abstract:

H19 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is emerging as one of the key players in cancer biology. Although H19 lncRNA was long
ago reported to be overexpressed in the majority types of human cancers, but not in normal adjacent tissues, clear, causal
evidence of its role in cancer has only recently come to light. We have shown that cancer cells devoid of H19 expression encounter
a very significant retardation of tumor growth in vivo. In addition we have proven that H19 RNA contributes significantly to
several aspects of the malignant phenotype, including proliferation under serum starvation, hypoxic stress response, angiogenesis,
multidrug resistance and recently also to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Given the wide range of cancer-associated
phenotypes in which H19 is involved, we believed and proven that H19 is an ideal basis for highly selective cancer therapy. Using
the H19 regulatory elements to drive the expression of Diphtheria toxin, we have created a cancer-targeted DNA-based killing
drug that leaves the healthy surrounding tissues unharmed. Our talk will review our findings regarding H19 mechanism of
action, the creation of H19 based drugs and our promising results in bladder, pancreas and ovarian cancer clinical trials.

Biography :

Michal Gilon earned her PhD in Developmental Biology from the Hebrew University. Her Post- doctoral work was conducted in Prof. Hochberg’s lab at the biological
chemistry department of the Hebrew University, and is focused on the role of H19 in cancer.