Cancer-cell-specific cytostatic agent

Abstract

The present inventors discovered that although suppressing expression of the RecQ1 gene, a RecQ helicase family gene, shows suppressive effects on cell proliferation in cancer cells, such effects are not observed in human TIG3 cells (a normal diploid fibroblast cell line), which are normal cells. Hence, the present inventors discovered that siRNAs against RecQ1 gene have cancer cell-specific cell proliferation-suppressing effects that are mediated by suppression of the expression of said gene.

1 . A double-stranded RNA that can suppress the expression of an RecQ1 gene by an RNAi effect, wherein the RNA comprises a structure in which an RNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 32 or SEQ ID NOs: 40 to 43 and an RNA comprising a sequence complementary to said RNA are hybridized. 
     
     
         2 . The double-stranded RNA of  claim 1 , which comprises a structure in which one or more DNAs or RNAs overhang at an end. 
     
     
         3 . A DNA vector that can express an RNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 32 or SEQ ID NOs: 40 to 43. 
     
     
         4 . A cancer cell-specific cell proliferation inhibitor which comprises the RNA of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . An anticancer agent comprising the cancer cell-specific cell proliferation inhibitor of  claim 4  as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         6 . A cancer cell-specific cell proliferation inhibitor which comprises the RNA of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         7 . A cancer cell-specific cell proliferation inhibitor which comprises the DNA of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         8 . An anticancer agent comprising the cancer cell-specific cell proliferation inhibitor of  claim 6  as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         9 . An anticancer agent comprising the cancer cell-specific cell proliferation inhibitor of  claim 7  as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         10 . A method for suppressing cancer cell-specific cell proliferation, which comprises administering a double-stranded RNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 32 or SEQ ID NOs: 40 to 43 and a sequence complementary thereto or a DNA vector encoding the RNA to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the double-stranded RNA comprises one or more DNAs or RNAs overhang at an end. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method is for treating a cancer.