Small interfering RNA targeting Raf-1 inhibits tumor growth in vitro and in vivo

Cancer Gene Ther. 2005 Aug;12(8):682-90. doi: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700831.

Abstract

Raf-1 is a cytosolic serine-threonine kinase that plays an important role in tumor cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Upregulated Raf-1 activity has also been implicated in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. In this study, we used a promising new RNA interfering technology that targets Raf-1 mRNA both in vitro and in vivo. We initially found that Raf-1 siRNA markedly reduced Raf-1 mRNA in MDA-MB-435 cells in vitro by approximately 75% compared to control siRNA treatment groups. Raf-1 siRNA also reduced cell number by inducing apoptosis in a number of cell lines including HUVEC, MDA-MB-435, and C6 cells. After screening several histidine-lysine polymers in complex with Raf-1 siRNA to reduce tumor growth, we further evaluated the efficacy of this siRNA in complex with the optimal histidine-lysine carrier to reduce the tumor growth in vivo. MDA-MB-435 xenografts treated by intratumoral injections of Raf-1 siRNA were significantly reduced compared with the control groups. By the fourth measurement, tumor growth was reduced by nearly 60% in the Raf-1 siRNA treatment group compared with the untreated group (P < .02). Taken together, our data provide evidence that Raf-1 siRNA may be an effective strategy for reducing tumor growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / enzymology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / therapeutic use*
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf