title: [RNA interference (RNAi) and its therapeutic potential in cancer].
abstract: Small RNAs belong to a newly discovered strain of molecules. These molecules are composed of double strand RNA comprised by just about 19-31 nucleotides. They have two main characteristics that make them unique. Firstly, they are noncoding for proteins and second they interfere post-transcriptional with mRNA. This interfering action is the distinguishing hallmark, therefore known as interfering RNA or RNAi. There are three main subclasses of which micro-RNA and siRNA are the most widely studied. Interference RNAs participate in a myriad of cellular functions mainly through modulation of genetic expression. Due to these capabilities it has been used as therapeutic weapon in a number of diseases including cancer. It is known that both miRNA and siRNA participate in carcinogenesis, either inhibiting suppressor genes, or stimulating oncogenes. It has been demonstrated that manipulating small interfering RNAs in cell lines and animal models, the malignant and metastatic phenotype can be reversed. Up to now a few clinical trials using RNAi as a therapeutic agent have demonstrated some success and feasibility. It is forseeable that in the near future cancer treatment with small RNAs will be widely applicable, once the many constrains for its systemic application are surpassed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital de Ginecopediatría 3 A. IMSS Delegación Norte.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Vega
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contreras-Paredes
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lizano-Soberón
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amador-Molina
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Carrancá
authors.forename: Lilia Patricia
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Suárez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benítez-Bribiesca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D009857:Oncogenes; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering