Polymorphisms in the large subunit of human RNA polymerase II as target for allele-specific inhibition.

ABSTRACT: The lack of specificity of cancer treatment causes damage to normal cells as well, which limits the therapeutic range. To circumvent this problem one would need to use an absolute difference between normal cells and cancer cells as therapeutic target. Such a difference exists in the genome of all individuals suffering from a tumor that is characterized by loss of genetic material [loss of heterozygosity (LOH)]. Due to LOH, the tumor is hemizygous for a number of genes, whereas the normal cells of the individual are heterozygous for these genes. Theoretically, polymorphic sites in these genes can be utilized to selectively target the cancer cells with an antisense oligonucleotide, provided that it can discriminate the alleles and inhibit gene expression. Furthermore, the targeted gene shoul

SUBMITTER: ten Asbroek AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC102615 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature