Treatment of cholangiocarcinoma by pGCsiRNA-vascular endothelial growth factor in vivo

Background The early diagnosis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma may benefit from specific tumor markers to be used in clinical practice. Objectives To investigate whether the pGCsiRNA-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can affect the onset and progression of cholangiocarcinoma and its possible mechanism using the targeted therapy of nude mouse model of cholangiocarcinoma with attenuated Salmonella carrying the plasmid pGCsiRNA-VEGF. Methods The nude mouse model of cholangiocarcinoma was established by tail vein injection of QBC939 cells and given attenuated Salmonella carrying the plasmid pGCsiRNA-VEGF. One month later, the tumor volume of nude mice was observed, and the tumor growth curve was plotted. The harvested tumors were weighed and detected for tissue structural changes and cell death status by hematoxylin–eosin staining. The protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), and MMP9 were detected by Western blotting and PCR, respectively. Results The tumor volume and weight of the pGCsiRNA-VEGF group were significantly smaller than those of the mock and the si-scramble groups (P < 0.05). The expressions of VEGF, MMP2, and MMP9 at the transcriptional and translational levels were inhibited by pGCsiRNA-VEGF. PGCsiRNA-VEGF promoted tissue apoptosis and destroyed the tissue structure. Conclusions In vivo silencing of VEGF can affect cell survival and inhibit cell migration, invasion, and development, probably by enhancing apoptosis and inhibiting the expressions of MMP2 and MMP9.