Focal adhesion kinase targeting using in vivo short interfering RNA delivery in neutral liposomes for ovarian carcinoma therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a critical role in ovarian cancer cell survival and in various steps in the metastatic cascade. Based on encouraging in vitro results with FAK silencing, we examined the in vivo therapeutic potential of this approach using short interfering RNA (siRNA) in the neutral liposome 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC).


METHODS
Therapy experiments of FAK siRNA with or without docetaxel were done using human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3ip1, HeyA8, and HeyA8MDR in nude mice. Additional experiments with a cisplatin-resistant cell line (A2780-CP20) were also done. Assessments of angiogenesis (CD31), cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), and apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) were done using immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
A single dose of FAK siRNA-DOPC was highly effective in reducing in vivo FAK expression for up to 4 days as assayed by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Therapy experiments were started 1 week after injection of the ovarian cancer cells. Treatment with FAK siRNA-DOPC (150 mug/kg twice weekly) reduced mean tumor weight by 44% to 72% in the three cell lines compared with the control group (Ps < 0.05 for HeyA8, A2780-CP20, and SKOV3ip1). When FAK siRNA-DOPC was combined with docetaxel, there was even greater reduction in mean tumor weight in all models (all Ps < 0.05). Similar results were observed in combination with cisplatin. Treatment with FAK siRNA-DOPC plus docetaxel resulted in decreased microvessel density, decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9, and increased apoptosis of tumor-associated endothelial cells and tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these findings suggest that FAK siRNA-DOPC plus docetaxel or platinum might be a novel therapeutic approach against ovarian cancer.
Halder
Jyotsnabaran
J
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Kamat
Aparna A
AA
Landen
Charles N
CN
Han
Liz Y
LY
Lutgendorf
Susan K
SK
Lin
Yvonne G
YG
Merritt
William M
WM
Jennings
Nicholas B
NB
Chavez-Reyes
Arturo
A
Coleman
Robert L
RL
Gershenson
David M
DM
Schmandt
Rosemarie
R
Cole
Steven W
SW
Lopez-Berestein
Gabriel
G
Sood
Anil K
AK
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine