Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

TRUE Gene Silencing: Screening of a Heptamer-type Small Guide RNA Library for Potential Cancer Therapeutic Agents
09:18

TRUE Gene Silencing: Screening of a Heptamer-type Small Guide RNA Library for Potential Cancer Therapeutic Agents

Published on: June 2, 2016

Systemic siRNA-mediated gene silencing: a new approach to targeted therapy of cancer

Mark S Duxbury1, Evan Matros, Hiromichi Ito

  • 1Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Annals of Surgery
|September 24, 2004
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Systemic RNA interference (siRNA) therapy effectively suppressed pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis in mice by targeting CEACAM6. This approach offers a promising, non-toxic treatment strategy for refractory cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Oncology
  • Gene silencing therapeutics

Background:

  • Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) is overexpressed in gastrointestinal cancers.
  • CEACAM6 overexpression promotes cancer cell survival and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate systemic small interfering RNA (siRNA) for gene silencing in vivo.
  • To assess the therapeutic effect of siRNA on pancreatic cancer growth in a murine xenograft model.

Main Methods:

  • Mice xenografted with pancreatic cancer cells were treated with CEACAM6-specific or control siRNA.
  • Tumor growth, CEACAM6 expression, proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • CEACAM6-specific siRNA significantly suppressed tumor growth (68%) and inhibited metastasis (0% vs 60%).
  • Treatment reduced proliferation, impaired angiogenesis, and increased apoptosis.
  • Improved survival was observed without apparent toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Systemically administered siRNA is effective for experimental pancreatic cancer treatment.
  • This RNA interference approach shows potential for treating various refractory cancers.

More Related Videos

DNA Vector-based RNA Interference to Study Gene Function in Cancer13:10

DNA Vector-based RNA Interference to Study Gene Function in Cancer

Published on: June 4, 2012

Nanoparticle-mediated siRNA Gene-silencing in Adult Zebrafish Heart09:12

Nanoparticle-mediated siRNA Gene-silencing in Adult Zebrafish Heart

Published on: July 29, 2018

Related Concept Videos

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...