| A wide spectrum of genetic and epigenetic variations together with environmental factors has made colorectal
cancer (CRC), which involves the colon and rectum, a
challenging and heterogeneous cancer. CRC cannot be effectively overcomed by common conventional therapies
including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and
hormone replacement which highlights the need for a rational design of novel anticancer therapy. Accumulating
evidence indicates that RNA interference (RNAi) could be
an important avenue to generate great therapeutic efficacy
for CRC by targeting genes that are responsible for the
viability, cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation,
metastasis, and invasion of CRC cells. In this review, we
underline the documented benefits of small interfering
RNAs and short hairpin RNAs to target genes and signaling
pathways related to CRC tumorigenesis. We address the
synergistic effects of RNAi‐mediated gene knockdown and
inhibitors/chemotherapy agents to increase the sensitivity
of CRC cells to common therapies. Finally, this review points new delivery systems/materials for improving the
cellular uptake efficiency and reducing off‐target effects
of RNAi. |