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RNAi: A New Paradigm in Cancer Gene Therapy

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Gene-Based Therapies for Cancer

Part of the book series: Current Cancer Research ((CUCR))

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Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) has revolutionized the field of gene therapy and opened up new opportunities for personalized treatments. However, several challenges remain for gene therapy. Therefore, new approaches for gene regulatory therapies are needed to overcome these challenges. In this chapter, we discuss the clinical significance of the RNAi machinery, clinical applications, delivery systems, off-target effects, imaging, and clinical trials. The remarkable advances in the design, delivery, and understanding of RNAi-based therapeutics predict a bright future for their development as therapeutic agents. It is well established that once a gene is identified as an important player in tumor progression or metastasis, siRNA is a feasible alternative to modulate its expression. Moreover, the development of new delivery systems will further advance the efficiency and localization of siRNA delivery to specific tissues and organs. Concurrently, the development of “intelligent probes” to identify siRNA function in addition to localization will further advance the evaluation of new formulations using imaging techniques.

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Acknowledgements

Portions of this work were supported by NIH grants (CA 110793, 109298, CA128797, and RC2GM092599), the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Inc. (Program Project Development Grant), U. T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center SPORE (P50CA083639), the Zarrow Foundation, the Marcus Foundation, the Betty Anne Asche Murray Distinguished Professorship, and the EIF Foundation to A.K.S. E.M. was supported by the U. T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Ovarian Cancer Spore (P50CA083639), Ovarian Cancer Program of the Department Of Defense (OC-073399), the National Cancer Institute Partnership Program (U54 96297, U54 96300) and a grant from the Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Herman Pressler, Unit 1362, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Anil K. Sood

  2. Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, U. T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Anil K. Sood

  3. Department of Cancer Biology, U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 173, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Anil K. Sood

Authors
  1. Edna M. Mora
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  2. Selanere L. Mangala
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  3. Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
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  4. Anil K. Sood
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anil K. Sood .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. M.D.Anderson Cancer Center, Dept. Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas, Holcombe Blvd. 1515, Houston, 77030, USA

    Jack A. Roth

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Mora, E.M., Mangala, S.L., Lopez-Berestein, G., Sood, A.K. (2010). RNAi: A New Paradigm in Cancer Gene Therapy. In: Roth, J. (eds) Gene-Based Therapies for Cancer. Current Cancer Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6102-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6102-0_1

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