Efficient RNA interference in patients' acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells amplified as xenografts in mice

Abstract

Abstract Background Signaling studies in cell lines are hampered by non-physiological alterations obtained in vitro. Physiologic primary tumor cells from patients with leukemia require passaging through immune-compromised mice for amplification. The aim was to enable molecular work in patients' ALL cells by establishing siRNA transfection into cells amplified in mice. Results We established delivering siRNA into these cells without affecting cell viability. Knockdown of single or multiple genes reduced constitutive or induced protein expression accompanied by marked signaling alterations. Conclusion Our novel technique allows using patient-derived tumor cells instead of cell lines for signaling studies in leukemia.