Cyclooxygenase-2 knockdown in colon cancer by RNA interference.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 99
Description: Overexpression of COX-2 is observed early in colon cancer. Treatments with COX-2 specific NSAIDs, were shown to reduce polyp size and number in FAP patients with a predisposition to colorectal adenoma and cancer. However, the use of COX-2-specific NSAIDs in colon cancer patients has recently revealed increased cardiovascular risks. These harmful side effects may be the result of COX-dependent or COX-independent mechanisms. RNA interference (RNAi) is a method of post-transcriptional gene silencing intrinsic to cells. This thesis explores strategies to specifically downregulate COX-2 expression in colon cancer cells using NSAID treatments and the novel method of RNAi. In HT29 colon cancer cells, COX-2 siRNA treatment for 72 hours resulted in endogenous COX-2 protein knockdown by 60%. Endogenous COX-2 mRNA knockdown corroborated protein results by exhibiting a knockdown of 55% in these same cell lines with independent treatments. Taken together, COX-2 knockdown can be achieved through RNAi in COX-2-expressing cell lines. Such methods of COX-2-specific knockdown may have better potential to be used for chemopreventive measures in the future.
Notes: Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, page: 0323.

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