Claudin-3 gene silencing with siRNA suppresses ovarian tumor growth and metastasis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Mar 3;106(9):3426-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0813348106. Epub 2009 Feb 10.

Abstract

Claudin-3 (CLDN3) is a tight junction protein that is overexpressed in 90% of ovarian tumors. Previous in vitro studies have indicated that CLDN3 overexpression promotes the migration, invasion, and survival of ovarian cancer cells. Here, we investigated the efficacy of lipidoid-formulated CLDN3 siRNA in 3 different ovarian cancer models. Intratumoral injection of lipidoid/CLDN3 siRNA into OVCAR-3 xenografts resulted in dramatic silencing of CLDN3, significant reduction in cell proliferation, reduction in tumor growth, and a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Intraperitoneal injection of lipidoid-formulated CLDN3 siRNA resulted in a substantial reduction in tumor burden in MISIIR/TAg transgenic mice and mice bearing tumors derived from mouse ovarian surface epithelial cells. Ascites development was reduced in CLDN3 siRNA-treated mice, suggesting the treatment effectively suppressed metastasis. Toxicity was not observed after multiple i.p. injections. Importantly, treatment of mice with nonimmunostimulatory 2'-OMe modified CLDN3 siRNA was as effective in suppressing tumor growth as unmodifed siRNA. These results suggest that lipidoid-formulated CLDN3 siRNA has potential as a therapeutic for ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Claudin-3
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • CLDN3 protein, human
  • Claudin-3
  • Cldn3 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering