Gene therapy with RNAi targeting UHRF1 driven by tumor-specific promoter inhibits tumor growth and enhances the sensitivity of chemotherapeutic drug in breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2012 Apr;69(4):1079-87. doi: 10.1007/s00280-011-1801-y. Epub 2011 Dec 29.

Abstract

UHRF1, also known as ICBP90 (inverted CCAAT box binding protein 90) in human, is a nuclear protein that acts as a fundamental regulator in cell proliferation and maintains DNA methylation. It is reported that UHRF1 is obviously upregulated in various human malignancies, but unchanged in differentiated tissues, suggesting that UHRF1 plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis and can be a useful anticancer drug target. In this study, we explored whether UHRF1 can be a therapeutic target for human breast carcinoma. We successfully constructed the tumor-specific shRNA expression vector driven by survivin promoter targeting UHRF1 gene. The tumor-specific RNA interference system efficiently and specifically knocked down UHRF1 expression, induced the apoptosis of tumor cells, and enhanced chemosensitivity of tumor cells to cisplatinum, but not in normal cells in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the survivin promoter-driving shRNA expression system targeting UHRF1 may play a vital and potential role for the treatment of specificity and high efficacy in human breast carcinomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / deficiency*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Cell Growth Processes / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • DNA Methylation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Transfection
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • UHRF1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Cisplatin