Chemotherapy with si-RNA and Anti-Cancer Drugs

Abstract

Background: To treat cancer, chemotherapy is a key therapeutic approach which is associated with several limitations. This chemotherapeutical agent exhibits multi drug resistance coupled with undesirable side effects. This multidrug resistance is exhibited by tumor cell due to actuation of drug out flow mechanism, programmed cell death and protection mechanisms etc. One of the therapeutic approaches to cure cancer is RNA interference (RNAi). Small interfering RNA (si-RNA) is considered as a major therapeutic tool used to control expression of a particular gene. It is a well known fact that intake of more drugs can lead to cancer chemo resistance, thus siRNA based therapeutic approach is under scrutiny to cure cancer.

Methods: This review article gives an overview of various combination approaches for si-RNA with chemotherapeutics. Further, article highlights the potential of nanotechnology to improve bioavailability of drug and bio-therapeutics at the site of action.

Results: Combination chemotherapy is employed in clinics as a main cancer treatment tool to suppress multidrug resistance in cancer. On the other hand, suitable protective carrier is needed due to the stability issues and small size of si-RNA. To overcome these drawbacks associated with siRNA currently, nanotechnology based approaches have been widely used.

Conclusion: Delivery of anti-cancer drugs with si-RNA will be one of important intermingled approach to reduce duration of chemotherapy and improve therapeutic outcomes in cancer patient.

Keywords: Nanotechnology; RNAi; cancer; clinical trial; combination therapy; si-RNA.