Effect of bcl-xL down-regulation mediated by siRNA on chemosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells

Objective To analyze the effect of bcl-xL down-regulation mediated by small interference RNA(siRNA) on the chemosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel.Methods Three pairs of siRNA targeted at bcl-xL were designed and synthesized.Esophageal cancer cells were transfected with siRNA by using Lipofectamine 2000.bcl-xL expressions in the transfected cells and the control cells were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.Cell proliferation inhibition rates of esophageal cancer cells treated with cisplatin and paclitaxel were detected by MTT assay.The IC50 values were calculated and compared.Results bcl-xL was down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells transfected with specific siRNA.The down-regulation of bcl-xL decreased the IC50 values of esophageal cancer cells treated with cisplatin or paclitaxel.Conclusion the down-regulation of bcl-xL mediated by siRNA can increase the chemosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel.