High-throughput screening by RNA interference and its application in breast cancer research

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene silencing process induced by double-stranded RNA molecules’ binding to message RNA, at both transcriptional level and post-transcriptional level. Recently, high-throughput screening (HTS) with large-scale RNAi has been applied to the field of cancer research, including investigation of cancer development and progression. Especially, HTS with RNAi library was used to identify deregulated signaling pathway, to discover novel drug targets, and to optimize combination therapy and dosing schedule. Furthermore, synthetic lethality strategy is also combined with RNAi HTS to identify new drug targets. The development of breast cancer involves multiple factors, and is associated with multiple genetic alterations, and is a multi-step carcinogenesis process. The RNAi HTS might help to understand this complex process and underlying mechanism that collectively attribute to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This article reviews the advancement of RNAi HTS assays, and focuses on its applications in both basic and translational research in breast cancer. A promising breakthrough is expected with RNAi HTS technology in the future. Key words: Breast cancers; RNA interference; High-throughput screening; Therapy