RNA Interference (RNAi)-based Molecular Target Discovery and Therapy of Cancer

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In 2006, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was shared by Fire and Mello for their discovery that double-stranded RNA triggers suppression of gene activity in a homology-dependent manner, a process named RNA interference (RNAi). Novel treatments and drug discovery based on RNAi are currently targeting a wide range of diseases, including viral infections and cancers. We developed an RNAi-based reverse genetics using a synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) complex with atelocollagen, which will become a powerful tool for understanding gene functions in cells and will allow the identification of drug targets. For a successful clinical application of synthetic siRNA, in vivo delivery technology is a key hurdle that must be addressed. We recently showed that an atelocollagen-mediated delivery system holds great potential for significantly advancing the practical application of cancer-causing-gene suppression using siRNAs in cancer therapeutics.





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