Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To analyze the effect of bcl-xL down-regulation mediated by small interference RNA (siRNA) on the chemosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel. Methods Three pairs of siRNA targeted at bcl-xL were designed and synthesized. Esophageal cancer cells were transfected with siRNA by using Lipofectamine 2000. bcl-xL expressions in the transfected cells and the control cells were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation inhibition rates of esophageal cancer cells treated with cisplatin and paclitaxel were detected by MTT assay. The IC₅₀ values were calculated and compared. Results bcl-xL was down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells transfected with specific siRNA. The down-regulation of bcl-xL decreased the IC₅₀ values of esophageal cancer cells treated with cisplatin or paclitaxel. Conclusion  the down-regulation of bcl-xL mediated by siRNA can increase the chemosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel.

Key words: 【Key words】 bcl-xL, Small interference RNA, Chemosensitivity, Cisplatin, Paclitaxel