Title:Optimizing Gene Silencing Strategies for Pancreatic Cancer
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ernest Ramsay Camp, Katie Hurst, Cindy Wang, David J. Cole and Dennis K. Watson
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Gene therapy, Short interfering RNA fragment, Nanoparticle, Pancreatic cancer.
Abstract: Pancreatic cancer is a devastating malignancy with a median survival of less than one year. The exceedingly
poor prognosis for metastatic pancreatic cancer patients remains a significant unmet medical need and is an opportunity
for development of novel therapeutic approaches incorporating gene therapy strategies. Barriers exist preventing effective
gene therapy including low transfection efficiency, poor tissue penetrance as well as non-specific delivery. However, one
specific strategy using synthetic short interfering RNA fragments holds great potential and recently demonstrated successful
systemic delivery using a transferrin (Tf)-targeted cyclodextrin-based polymer nanoparticle. Various nanoparticle formulations
are currently being optimized for systemic gene therapy approaches. In this review, we highlight the rapidly
progressing field of gene therapy strategies that have the potential to enhance the care of patients with devastating malignancies
such as pancreatic cancer and focus on systemic delivery strategies to overcome remaining hurdles limiting widespread
clinical applications.
