Small interfering RNAs targeting mutant K-ras inhibit human pancreatic carcinoma cells growth in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To investigate the effect of small interfering RNAs targeting mutant K-ras on the growth of pancreatic carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods: We cloned targeting sequence spanning codon 12 of mutant K-ras into the pSilencer-hygro plasmid, yielding two recombinant vectors with one base different. Both human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines were transfected by these two recombinant vectors. The transfected PC-7 cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice to observe its tumorigenicity. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were carried out to test the expression of K-ras in all of the transfected cell lines. Growth curves assay were performed to test the abilities of cells proliferation. Anti-K-ras therapy of PC-7 and Panc-1 in subcutaneous mice models were performed by intratumor injection of polyethylenimine/ siRNAs complex. Results: The expressions of K-ras in PC-7 cells and Panc-1 cells were significantly inhibited by corresponding small interfering RNAs. The expression of...