siRNA Therapy for Prostate Cancer Shows Promise in Mouse Study

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have reported promising results in a study investigating the use of siRNA therapy delivered by atelocollagen to target the FABP5 gene in prostate cancer. The study, published in International Journal of Oncology, aimed to test the hypothesis that siRNA targeting FABP5 could reduce the level of C-FABP in vivo. The results showed that siRNA treatment resulted in a significant reduction in tumor size in mice, with an average reduction of more than 3-fold compared to controls.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study demonstrated that siRNA targeting the FABP5 gene delivered by atelocollagen can effectively inhibit prostate cancer cell growth in nude mice.
  • Tumor size was significantly reduced in mice treated with 10 and 15 microM siRNA, with an average reduction of more than 3-fold compared to controls.
  • The dosage of 15 microM siRNA produced a greater reduction in tumor sizes when compared with 10 microM, but the difference was not significant.
  • Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting revealed that the levels of C-FABP expression in tumors from mice treated with 10 and 15 microM siRNA dosages were lower than those from the other groups.
  • The study suggests that siRNA therapy targeting the FABP5 gene may be a potential experimental therapy for prostate cancer.
  • Researchers concluded that this therapy can be effective in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 10 microM.

Statistics:

  • Tumor size reduction: over 3-fold in mice treated with 10 and 15 microM siRNA.
  • Dosage comparison: 15 microM siRNA produced a greater reduction in tumor sizes, but the difference was not significant (p=0.9).
  • C-FABP expression: levels were lower in tumors treated with 10 and 15 microM siRNA dosages compared to other groups.

Sources:

  • Atelocollagen-delivered siRNA targeting the FABP5 gene as an experimental therapy for prostate cancer in mouse xenografts. International Journal of Oncology, 2010;36(1):69-76.
  • S.S. Forootan, University of Liverpool, Division of Cellular Pathology and Molecular Genetics, School of Cancer Studies, 6th Floor, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.