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RETRACTED ARTICLE: RNA interference targeting the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase enhances pancreatic adenocarcinoma chemosensitivity to gemcitabine

This article was retracted on 16 February 2023

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Abstract

Ribonucleotide reductase is emerging as an important determinant of gemcitabine chemoresistance in human cancers. Activity of this enzyme, which catalyses conversion of ribonucleotide 5′-diphosphates to their 2′-deoxynucleotides, is modulated by levels of its M2 subunit (RRM2). Here we show that RRM2 overexpression is associated with gemcitabine chemoresistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells, and that suppression of RRM2 expression using RNA interference mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) enhances gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. We demonstrate the ability of systemically administered RRM2 siRNA to suppress tumoral RRM2 expression in an orthotopic xenograft model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Synergism between RRM2 siRNA and gemcitabine results in markedly suppressed tumor growth, increased tumor apoptosis and inhibition of metastasis. Our findings confirm the importance of RRM2 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma gemcitabine chemoresistance. This is the first demonstration that systemic delivery of siRNA-based therapy can enhance the efficacy of an anticancer nucleoside analog.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Jan Rounds. This work was supported by The National Pancreas Foundation and departmental funds from the Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Correspondence to Edward E Whang.

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This article has been retracted. Please see the retraction notice for more detail:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-023-02625-6

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Duxbury, M., Ito, H., Zinner, M. et al. RETRACTED ARTICLE: RNA interference targeting the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase enhances pancreatic adenocarcinoma chemosensitivity to gemcitabine. Oncogene 23, 1539–1548 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1207272

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