NCIt definition : A locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based oligonucleotide inhibitor of microRNA (miRNA) 155
(miR-155), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration, cobomarsen
targets, binds to and inhibits miR-155. This silences miR-155 and prevents the translation
of certain tumor promoting genes, which leads to the induction of cancer cell apoptosis
and the inhibition of tumor cell growth. miR-155, an oncogenic single-stranded, non-coding
RNA that is critical to the regulation of gene expression, is overexpressed in certain
tumor cell types. Up-regulation of miR-155 plays a key role in increased tumor cell
proliferation and survival. The LNA is an RNA analog in which the ribose ring is locked
in a particular confirmation that increases stability. Compared to the unmodified
oligonucleotide, the LNA-modified oligonucleotide shows increased affinity for its
target miR-155.;