Modulation of apoptosis and radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of survivin

Purpose/Objective: Recently survivin, a member of the Inhibitor of apoptosis protein family (IAP), was identified by our group as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer as well as an radioresistance factor in colorectal cancer cell-lines in vitro. In the present study, we attempted to inhibit the expression of survivin by small interfering (si) RNA-technology. The impact of surviving inhibition on tumor cell apoptosis and radiosensitivity in two colorectal cell lines was investigated.