Potential applications of RNA interference technology in the treatment of cancer.
Inhibition of growth and progression of cancer cells is a challenge with major potential impact. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been rapidly developed as a laboratory tool for the downregulation of the expression of a gene of interest. Moreover, RNAi offers a new potential for gene therapy of particular neoplasms by the specific inhibition of a cancer-associated target. This article will briefly describe the mechanism and application possibilities of RNAi, and illustrate the therapeutic potential in cancer gene therapy. The utilization of RNAi technology as a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of cancer will be discussed in detail for two specific targets; the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase and the multidrug transporter MDR1/P-glycoprotein.
Charité Campus Mitte, Institute of Pathology, For-schumannstr. 20/21 D-10117 Berlin, Germany hermann.lage@charite.de
Hermann
H
Lage
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000627:therapeutic use
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl