RNA Interference Screening to Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets

RNA interference (RNAi) technology provides a powerful tool to study the function of genes and their encoded proteins and has opened up exciting avenues towards therapeutic target discovery. To test the RNAi screening methodology in high-risk childhood sarcoma, we have developed a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) screening assay in two Ewing sarcoma cell lines. In Ewing sarcoma, as in many other cancers, the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) is emerging as therapeutic target and IGF1R blocking antibodies show promising anti-tumor activity in some but not all patients. So a key question is as to what und…