Inhibition of gastric cancer angiogenesis by vector-based RNA interference for Raf-1

Tumor angiogenesis plays an important role in the malignancy of solid tumors. A number of recent studies including our own have suggested that Raf-1 is involved in this process, and may be critical in regulating gene activation of several angiogenesis factors. To further define Raf-1 function in angiogenesis and to explore novel approaches to modulate angiogenesis, we employed the small interference RNA technique to knock-down gene expression of Raf-1 in gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 that expresses a high level of Raf-1. The protein level of Raf-1 in the SGC7901 cells was decreased dramatically after transfection with a Raf-1 specific siRNA vector. Further study proved that, VEGF and HIF-1α, two angiogenesis promoting factors, were found to be downregulated. And we also find that Vector-based RNA interference for Raf-1 increases transfected gastric cell apoptosis and inhibits cellular proliferation. Our results suggest that Raf-1 may be involved in angiogenesis by controlling the expression of angiogenesis-related factors and provide a possible strategy for the treatment of tumor angiogenesis by targeting Raf-1.