OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the vector carrying short hairpin RNA targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (shRNA-EGFR) on the radiosensitivity of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

METHODSshRNA-EGFR was transfected into human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE1 via Lipofectamine 2000. The transfected cells were collected for quantitative RT-PCR detection of the expression level of EGFR mRNA. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of EGFR protein. CNE1 cells were inoculated into nude mice and the tumor volume was measured every 2 days. shRNA-EGFR was intratumorally injected in the mice, and 16 days after radiotherapy, the mice were sacrificed and tumors examined for radiosensitivity.

RESULTSshRNA-EGFR was effectively delivered via Lipofectamine 2000 into CNE cells to result in a significant downregulation of EGFR mRNA and protein expressions (P<0.05). A significant difference was noted in the tumor volume and weight in the tumor-bearing nude mice between shRNA-EGFR plus radiotherapy group and the control, exclusive radiotherapy and shRNA-EGFR groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONshRNA-EGFR combined with radiotherapy can effectively inhibit the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in nude mice. shRNA-EGFR can enhance sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma to radiotherapy.