Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the roles of PIM-1 in prostate cancer (CaP) cell proliferation and apoptosis, and to assess the potential of PIM-1 as a target for CaP therapy.
Methods: Using RNAi technology, we knocked down the expression of PIM-1 in PC-3 cell. After siRNA transfection, cell morphology, cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis rate were analyzed. PIM-1 siRNA with Lipofectamine were injected into xenograft models to evaluate its therapeutic effect.
Results: PIM-1 siRNA significantly inhibited PIM-1 expression. In vitro, silencing of the PIM-1 gene resulted in irregular cell morphology, decreased cell proliferation, inhibition of cell-cycle progression, and induction of apoptosis. Compared with control groups, intratumoral injection of PIM-1 siRNA with Lipofectamine in nude mice dramatically suppressed PC-3 tumor progression.
Conclusions: PIM-1 could play important roles in the progression of CaP and may be an interesting target for CaP therapy.
(c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.