Cationic liposomal co-delivery of small interfering RNA and a MEK inhibitor for enhanced anticancer efficacy

Purpose: To test whether co-delivery of anticancer small interfering RNA (siRNA) and a chemical MEK inhibitor using cationic liposomes enhances anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Method: MEK inhibitor PD0325901 was encapsulated in lipid layers of N',N''-dioleylglutamide-based cationic liposomes (DGL). Mcl1-specific siRNA (siMcl1) was complexed to DGL or PD0325901-loaded liposomes (PDGL). Efficiency of cellular siRNA delivery was tested using fluorescent double-stranded RNA. Silencing of target proteins was evaluated using Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. In vivo anticancer activity was tested using xenografted mice. Results: Size and zeta potential of PDGL were similar to DGL. PDGL could deliver double-stranded RNA into cells with efficiencies comparable to DGL. Cellular co-delivery of siMcl1 and PD0325901 reduced expression of Mcl1 and pERK1/2 proteins and more effectively reduced tumor cell survival than other treatments. In mice, siMcl1 and PD0325901 co-delivered by PDGL inhibited growth of tumors 79%. Substantial apoptosis of tumor cells was observed following PDGL-mediated co-delivery of siMcl1, but not in other groups. Conclusions: PDGL-mediated co-delivery of siMcl1 and MEK inhibitor, PD0325901, could serve as a potential strategy for combination chemogene anticancer therapy.