A New Approach to Breast Cancer Treatment: The Potential of Umbilical Cord Blood Exosomes

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic strategies to enhance patient survival and outcomes. Despite advances in conventional treatment, limitations persist, driving exploration of alternative approaches. Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles derived from various cell types, have garnered significant interest in cancer therapy due to their capacity to deliver bioactive molecules such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to recipient cells. Among exosome sources, umbilical cord blood (UCB) exosomes are particularly promising, enriched with growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix proteins that modulate cellular functions. Prior studies have indicated the potential of UCB exosomes to inhibit tumor proliferation and metastasis across various cancer models. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of UCB exosome therapy in a Balb/c mouse model of breast cancer, initiated by ۴T۱ cell injection. Additionally, we examined the expression levels of two lncRNAs—MIAT and CARL—associated with breast cancer progression and metastatic potential. We hypothesized that UCB exosome administration would result in reduced tumor growth and metastasis, accompanied by modified lncRNA expression of MIAT and CARL, thereby altering key cancer-related molecular pathways. Methods : A Balb/c mouse model of breast cancer was established by injecting ۴T۱ cells (۵ × ۱۰⁵ cells/mouse) into the mammary fat of female mice aged ۶-۸ weeks. Mice were then divided into two groups: a control group receiving PBS injections and a treatment group receiving UCB exosomes (۱۰۰ µg/mouse) administered intravenously twice weekly for four weeks. RNA from tumor tissues was extracted and analyzed by qPCR to measure MIAT and CARL expression levels, with GAPDH serving as the housekeeping gene. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student’s t-test, considering a p-value < ۰.۰۵ as statistically significant. Results : UCB exosome therapy significantly reduced tumor size and downregulated MIAT and CARL lncRNA expression levels in the treated mice compared to controls. This downregulation indicates an interference in the molecular mechanisms driving tumor growth, potentially through promoting apoptotic pathways. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the strong therapeutic potential of UCB exosomes in treating aggressive breast cancer, showing a marked reduction in tumor growth and metastasis in a murine model. The results suggest that UCB exosomes not only diminish tumor size but also modulate crucial molecular pathways associated with cancer progression by altering the expression of lncRNAs MIAT and CARL. These findings highlight UCB exosomes as a viable and promising approach for future breast cancer therapies, with potential clinical implications for improving patient outcomes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) ، ۴T۱ cells ، Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) ، MIAT ، CARL