A systematic review of non-coding RNA therapeutics in early clinical trials: a new perspective against cancer

Abstract

Targeting non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), has recently emerged as a promising strategy for treating malignancies and other diseases. In recent years, the development of ncRNA-based therapeutics for targeting protein-coding and non-coding genes has also gained momentum. This review systematically examines ongoing and completed clinical trials to provide a comprehensive overview of the emerging landscape of ncRNA-based therapeutics. Significant efforts have been made to advance ncRNA therapeutics to early clinical studies. The most advanced trials have been conducted with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), miRNA replacement using nanovector-entrapped miRNA mimics, or miRNA silencing by antisense oligonucleotides. While siRNA-based therapeutics have already received FDA approval, miRNA mimics, inhibitors, and lncRNA-based therapeutics are still under evaluation in preclinical and early clinical studies. We critically discuss the rationale and methodologies of ncRNA targeting strategies to illustrate this rapidly evolving field. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-024-05554-4.