RNA interference and micro RNA-oriented therapy in cancer: rationales, promises, and challenges.
The discovery that RNA interference (RNAi) and its functional derivatives, small interfering RNAs (SiRNAs) and micro-RNAs (MiRNAs) could mediate potent and specific gene silencing has raised high hopes for cancer therapeutics. The prevalence of these small (18-25 nucleotide) non-coding rnas in human gene networks, coupled with their unique specificity, has paved the way for the development of new and promising therapeutic strategies in re-directing or inhibiting small rna phenomena.Three strategies are currently being developed: De novo RNAi programming using synthetic SiRNAS to target the expression of genes. Strengthening or recapitulation of the physiologic targeting of messenger RNAs by specific MiRNAs. Sequence-specific inhibition of Mi RNA functions by nucleic acid analogs. Each strategy, currently being developed both in academia and in industry, holds promise in cancer therapeutics.
Duchaine
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Goodman Cancer Centre, Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, 1160 Avenue des Pins West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A3.
Slack
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