WT1 gene silencing by aerosol delivery of PEI–RNAi complexes inhibits B16-F10 lung metastases growth

The Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) is a universal tumor antigen and consequently a good therapeutic target for the development of gene therapy strategies. Earlier, we reported the in vitro efficacy of WT1 RNAi in the inhibition of B16F10 murine melanoma cell line growth. In this study, we used an aerosol system to deliver WT1 RNAi complexes, polyethyleneimine (PEI)–WT1-1 or PEI–WT1-2, to the lungs of mice with B16F10 lung metastasis. This treatment produced a statistically significant ( P =0.020) reduction in the number and size of lung tumor foci, resulting in decreased lung weight and tumor index in treated mice compared with controls. The WT1 RNAi treatment also reduced the number and size of tumor blood vessels, suggesting decreased angiogenesis. Furthermore, the treated lung tissue showed cells in the tumor infiltrations undergoing apoptosis and elevated expression of the proapoptotic genes Bcl-xS and Bax, suggesting an activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Overall, WT1-1 treatment prolonged the mean survival time of tumor-bearing mice in comparison with the control and WT1-2-treated mice. Our data show that WT1 gene silencing in vivo by aerosol delivery of PEI–WT1 RNAi complexes is an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung metastases.