Melanoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Melanoma, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Knockdown of PKR expression by RNAi reduces pulmonary metastatic potential of B16-F10 melanoma cells in mice: possible role of NF-kappaB.

Delgado André N, De Lucca FL

Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, School of Medicine University of São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

It was suggested that PKR may act as a tumor suppressor. However, the results are still controversial. Here, we investigate the effect of PKR-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressing plasmids on pulmonary metastatic potential of B16-F10 melanoma cells in mice. Levels of both PKR mRNA and PKR protein were only significantly reduced in tumor cells transfected with plasmid-based PKR-specific shRNA. Injection of tumor cells transfected with PKR-specific shRNA expressing plasmid resulted in inhibition (85%) of metastatic nodules compared with control. Our results suggest that this effect is mediated by the transcription factor NF-kappaB. This study does not support the concept of PKR as a tumor suppressor.

Published 29 October 2007 in Cancer Lett, 258(1): 118-25.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Melanoma Research Today. All Rights Reserved.