The oncogene c-Jun has been found to be up-regulated in
a variety of cancers, including osteosarcoma. Doxorubicin
is a frontline chemotherapeutic against osteosarcoma, but
is limited by toxicity. DNAzymes are oligonucleotides
capable of specific catalysis of target mRNA. A biocompatible
c-Jun DNAzyme nanoparticle formulated from
chitosan regressed the growth and metastasis of preestablished
tumors, especially in combination with doxorubicin.
In vitro data confirmed that c-Jun knockdown
chemosensitized these cells to doxorubicin treatment.
c-Jun down-regulation–mediated tumor inhibition also led
to concomitant decreased osteolysis. Clinically, knockdown
of c-Jun with chitosan nanobiotechnology may
proffer an improved treatment outcome for osteosarcoma.