[Antitumor effect of epidermal growth factor receptor gene silencing].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether chemically synthesized double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) could induce gene silencing in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, and to assess the degree of EGFR gene silencing and its effect on functional outcome.


METHODS
NSCLC cell line SPC-A-1 was transfected with target sequence-specific dsRNA formulated with Lipofectamine 2000. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry were used to measure the reduction in the production of the EGFR protein. Real-time PCR was used to detect the silencing of the EGFR gene level. Colony assay was adopted to measure the cellular proliferation and colony formation. A tumor burdened athymic nude mouse model was established to calculate the tumor growth inhibition rate.


RESULTS
The dsRNA-EGFR was shown to be effective with a 71.3% down-regulation of EGFR protein production and 50.0% of silencing of EGFR gene. The dsRNA-EGFR significantly reduced colony numbers by 66.8% in vitro and inhibited the tumor growth in vivo. The tumor growth inhibition rate was 75.0%.


CONCLUSIONS
The sequence specific dsRNA showed a blockbuster effect in downregulation of EGFR gene level and protein production, inhibition of the cellular proliferation and tumor growth.
Zhang
Min
M
Department of Respirtory Medicine-Institute of Respirtory Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Bai
Chun-xue
CX
Zhang
Xin
X
Gao
Lei
L
Mao
Ling
L
Chen
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D014162:Transfection
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D066246:ErbB Receptors