title: Targeting of CDC20 via small interfering RNA causes enhancement of the cytotoxicity of chemoradiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell division cycle 20 homologue (CDC20), which encodes a protein that promotes chromosomal separation, is highly expressed in several carcinomas, including pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  To ascertain whether this gene could be a potential therapeutic target, the RNA interference technique was applied using small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knockdown CDC20 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CDC20 siRNA showed more than 90% inhibition of CDC20 expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels and the specific knockdown of CDC20 expression inhibited the cell growth of human pancreatic carcinoma cells in vitro. Suppression of CDC20 induced accumulation of the cells in the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle. In addition, the knockdown of CDC20 caused enhancement of the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel and increased the effect of gamma-irradiation against pancreatic carcinoma cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CDC20 is a promising target for gene specific therapy in human pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan. t1006koichi@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Momiyama
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Ryusei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Ryutaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Togo
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D064199:Cdc20 Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C577488:CDC20 protein, human; D017239:Paclitaxel