Effects of survivin interference RNA on non-small cell lung carcinoma

OBJECTIVESThe primary purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effect of survivin interference RNA (siRNA) on non-small cell lung cancer.METHODSLentivirus was used as a vector to transfer siRNA into human lung cancer A549 cells. The proliferation of the cancer cells was assessed by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The lentivirus-mediated siRNA was also injected into the transplanted A549 tumor tissues in mice. Tumour growth was assessed after 11 injections over a period of 21 days.RESULTSCompared with the placebo and the blank lentiviral vector groups, the siRNA treatment group had reduced cell growth rate following 4 days of the treatment (P < 0.01). The average size of the transplanted A549 tumours in the siRNA treatment group (0.75+/-0.16 cm3, n=8) was smaller than in the placebo (2.09+/-0.22 cm3, n=6) or the blank lentivrial vector groups (1.89+/-0.18 cm3, n=6) (P < 0.01). The tumour growth inhibition rate in the siRNA groups was 46.1%.CONCLUSIONLentivirus-mediated siRNA therapy inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells in vitro. The siRNA therapy also suppresses the growth of the transplanted lung cancer in mice.