Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

RNA Interference in Ticks
09:06

RNA Interference in Ticks

Published on: January 20, 2011

18.6K

RNA interference to enhance radiation therapy: Targeting the DNA damage response

G Ratnayake1, A L Bain2, N Fletcher3

  • 1Centre of Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, Australia; Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Australia; Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Australia.

Cancer Letters
|September 22, 2018
PubMed

Insights

RNA interference (RNAi) therapy shows promise as a cancer radiosensitizer by targeting DNA damage repair. Advances in delivery systems are enabling RNAi therapeutics for clinical cancer treatment, advancing precision medicine.

Area of Science:

  • Biopharmaceutical development
  • Molecular oncology
  • Radiosensitization strategies

Background:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) therapy utilizes synthetic oligonucleotides to specifically suppress target proteins in tumor cells.
  • RNAi therapeutics represent an emerging biopharmaceutical class with significant potential in cancer medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of RNA interference (RNAi) as a radiosensitizer in cancer treatment.
  • To investigate targeting the DNA damage response pathway for enhanced radiation therapy efficacy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on RNAi mechanisms and DNA damage response pathways.
  • Analysis of recent advancements in RNAi delivery technologies, including nanoparticle carriers and conjugation strategies.
  • Examination of clinical trial progress for RNAi therapeutics in cancer treatment.

Main Results:

  • Multiple molecular targets within the DNA damage detection and repair pathways are suitable for RNAi-based radiosensitization.
  • Delivery technologies have advanced, enabling RNAi therapeutics to enter clinical trials for cancer.
  • RNAi targeting of DNA damage response presents a promising strategy for enhancing radiation oncology.

Conclusions:

  • RNAi therapy holds significant potential for cancer medicine, particularly as a radiosensitizer.
  • Targeting the DNA damage response with RNAi could revolutionize radiation oncology.
  • Further development of RNAi delivery and targeting strategies is crucial for realizing precision medicine in cancer care.
Keywords:
DNA damage repairGene therapyNanomedicineRNA interferenceRadiation oncology

More Related Videos

Two- and Three-Dimensional Live Cell Imaging of DNA Damage Response Proteins10:24

Two- and Three-Dimensional Live Cell Imaging of DNA Damage Response Proteins

Published on: September 28, 2012

14.6K
Dynamic Lung Tumor Tracking for Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiation Therapy08:17

Dynamic Lung Tumor Tracking for Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiation Therapy

Published on: June 7, 2015

16.2K

Related Concept Videos

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...
28.1K
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...
8.9K
Interference and Diffraction02:18

Interference and Diffraction

Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
52.5K
Biological Effects of Radiation02:59

Biological Effects of Radiation

All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they...
18.0K
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins02:36

RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins

Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
11.0K
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
3.2K