Research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has opened new avenues in understanding the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by focusing on a long non-coding RNA known as MALAT1. This study, published in Molecular Therapy: Oncology, highlights how tracking the levels of MALAT1 can provide insights into the disease’s development and potential treatment targets.
The study follows the treatment journey of a 59-year-old woman diagnosed with stage 1 TNBC. Researchers observed that MALAT1 levels were elevated at the time of diagnosis but subsequently decreased during standard treatment, which included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. Notably, these levels surged again at a distant metastatic site, suggesting a potential role for MALAT1 in cancer metastasis.
Disha Aggarwal, the graduate student who led the study, emphasized the uniqueness of their approach. “Even though MALAT1 has been implicated in different cancers, including breast cancer, nobody has looked at how MALAT1 levels change over treatment and disease progression,” she stated. This longitudinal examination provided a depth of insight rarely available in cancer research, as traditional studies typically analyze only initial and final samples.
Over a span of two and a half years, the patient’s condition initially regressed before ultimately becoming metastatic. Tragically, she passed away three and a half years post-diagnosis. Yet, her tissue samples have left a significant legacy that may aid future cancer research.
Professor David Spector, a key figure at CSHL, remarked on the exceptional nature of the data collected. “Researchers typically get to see an initial sample and an end sample, but not progressive samples in the depth that we were able to look at here,” he explained. The findings could ultimately inform treatment strategies, not only for TNBC but also for other less aggressive forms of breast cancer.
CSHL has collaborated with Ionis Pharmaceuticals since 2015 to develop a drug that targets MALAT1. Current efforts are focused on engaging with biotechnology companies to advance towards a clinical trial, which they hope to launch in the coming years.
Beyond therapeutic implications, the research may also help determine the likelihood of cancer recurrence or metastasis based on MALAT1 levels. This predictive capability could significantly influence treatment decisions for women diagnosed with TNBC and potentially for patients with other breast cancer variants.
The potential impact of this research underscores the importance of studying non-coding RNAs in cancer. As the scientific community continues to explore the complexities of cancer biology, findings like these from CSHL may pave the way for innovative treatment options and improved patient outcomes in the future.
For more information, refer to the study by Disha Aggarwal et al, titled “Longitudinal tracking of MALAT1 level over a breast cancer patient’s course of treatment and disease progression,” published in Molecular Therapy: Oncology in 2025.
