title: Silencing of the hTERT gene by shRNA inhibits colon cancer SW480 cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the key enzyme responsible for synthesizing and maintaining the telomeres on the ends of chromosomes, and it is essential for cell proliferation. This has made hTERT a focus of oncology research and an attractive target for anticancer drug development. In this study, we designed a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the catalytic subunit of hTERT and tested its effects on the growth of telomerase-positive human colon carcinoma SW480 cells in vitro, as well as on the tumorigenicity of these cells in nude mice. Transient and stable transfection of hTERT siRNA into colon cancer SW480 cells suppressed hTERT expression, reduced telomerase activity and inhibited cell growth and proliferation. Knocking down hTERT expression in SW480 tumors xenografted into nude mice significantly slowed tumor growth and promoted tumor cell apoptosis. Our results suggest that hTERT is involved in carcinogenesis of human colon carcinoma, and they highlight the therapeutic potential of a hTERT knock-down approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ai-Qun
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lian-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Science and Technology Agency, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xing-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fang-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Geng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase