Chitosan/short hairpin RNA complexes for vascular endothelial growth factor suppression invasive breast carcinoma

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to use chitosan/short hairpin VEGF (shVEGF) [short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-expressing pDNA targeting VEGF-A] complexes in the treatment of rat breast cancer model. Therefore, chitosan/shVEGF complexes were prepared in (2/1) ratio and injected to the breast-tumor bearing Sprague-Dawley rats. Intratumoral and intraperitoneal injections were applied and compared. Tumor volumes were measured during the 36 days. To investigate the effect of complexes on the VEGF expression, VEGF were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The mRNA levels of VEGF were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Tumor volume decreased at the end of experiments after shRNA treatment. The highest suppression in the tumor volume was observed after intratumoral complex injection to rats (96%). Compared with intratumoral and intraperitoneal injection, higher tumor inhibition was obtained with intratumoral injection. Free shRNA injection indicated lower tumor suppression. The immunohistochemistry and western blotting results correlated with the real-time polymerase chain reaction and tumor volume measurements. The data suggest that chitosan/shVEGF complexes can be used to inhibit tumor growth in breast carcinoma model of rats.