Apr 08, 2026
3 min read
Oregon State University researchers have developed lipid nanoparticles designed to deliver follistatin mRNA directly to lung tumors, and also target cancer growth and muscle wasting in preclinical studies.
The novel lipid nanoparticle delivery system showed a 2.5-fold reduction in tumor size compared to conventional drugs against cancer cachexia, providing a two-way therapeutic approach that uses vitronectin-mediated targeting of integrin receptors overexpressed on lung cancer cells.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new method that could revolutionize the way lung cancer is treated while addressing the severe muscle wasting that often accompanies the disease.
The study describes how specially engineered lipid nanoparticles can deliver therapeutic genetic material directly into lung tumors for a dual-action approach to treatment.
Success in target delivery
This study focused on the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver messenger RNA to cancerous tissue.In mouse models, the researchers demonstrated that these nanocarriers, loaded with follistatin messenger RNA, successfully accumulated in tumors.
Once inside the mRNA, it instructs cells to make folate, a protein known for its dual role of inhibiting tumor growth and promoting muscle growth.
The nanoparticles are injected intravenously and travel to the lungs with the help of vitronectin.which is a protein found in blood serumFats are fatty acids and similar organic compounds.While nanoparticles are very small particles with sizes between 1 and 100 billionths of a meter.
The nanoparticles are administered intravenously and travel to the lungs using vitronectin, a protein found in the blood serum.
"We found that these LNPs bind to vitronectin in the blood, which directs them to lung cancer tumors by interacting with integrin receptors that are overexpressed on the surface of the tumor," said Oleh Taratula, one of the study's lead researchers at Oregon State University's College of Pharmacy.
Integrin receptors act as bridges, controlling how cells respond to their environment and play an important role in enabling nanoparticles to reach their targets.
Promising results in first test
Delivering mRNA therapies to lung tumors has historically been a challenge for researchers.However, this new approach appears to overcome that obstacle.
"Systemic delivery of therapeutic mRNAs to lung cancer tumors has been a major challenge in our field, and this work offers a promising solution," said Taratula."Compared to conventional LNPs, which tend to accumulate in the liver when administered systemically, our approach achieved an approximately 2.5-fold reduction in tumor burden."
Systematic delivery of mRNA therapeutics to lung cancer tumors is a major challenge in our field and this work provides a promising solution.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death.It is the third most common and deadly cancer in the United States, with thousands of new cases diagnosed each year.Smoking increases the risk, although the disease can also occur in non-smokers.
Dealing with cancer cachexia
A major aspect of the research is the possibility of treating cachexia, a condition of muscle wasting often associated with lung cancer.The syndrome causes patients to lose weight and muscle mass, and even when they follow a normal diet, it is responsible for 30 percent of cancer-related deaths.
"By loading our LNPs with follistatin mRNA, we have developed therapies that target lung cancer and cachexia simultaneously without side effects," Taratula said.
Although more clinical research is needed, the researchers believe that their findings will help develop an effective and comprehensive treatment for lung cancer and its related complications.
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