Influence of survivin-targeted siRNA on the biological features of colorectal carcinoma cells

SiRNA-mediated silencing of fibroblast growth factor receptor improves chemotherapy effect in a xenograft mouse model of gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the effect of siRNA-mediated gene silencing of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) on the chemotherapy effect in a xenograft mouse model of gastric cancer and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODS: The expression of FGFR in MRC-5 cells and MGC80-3 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The siRNA against FGFR was constructed and transfected into BGC-823 cells via LipofectamineTM 2000. The reduced rate of cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, and apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of FGFR, Caspase3 and Bax after gene silencing. A xenograft nude mouse model of gastric cancer was established, and fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect FGFR mRNA expression levels after transfection with siRNA. Tumor size was measured to assess the effects of treatment in different groups (model group, cisplatin group, and cisplatin + siRNA group).

RESULTS: The expression of FGFR in MGC80-3 cells was higher than that in MRC-5 cells (P < 0.05). After transfection with siRNA, compared with the cisplatin group and model group, the cisplatin + siRNA group showed significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis (P < 0.05). After FGFR gene silencing, the expression of FGFR on cell surface decreased and the expression levels of intracellular Caspase3 and Bax improved (P < 0.05). The level of FGFR mRNA expression significantly decreased in tumor-bearing nude mice after siRNA transfection (P < 0.05). Besides, tumor volume decreased and tumor recession rate increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SiRNA-mediated FGFR inhibition promotes the therapeutic effect of cisplatin against gastric cancer.