Effects of stathmin 1 silencing by siRNA on sensitivity of esophageal cancer cells Eca-109 to paclitaxel.

We investigated the effects of stathmin 1 (STMN1) silencing by small interfering (siRNA) on the sensitivity of esophageal cancer cells Eca-109 to paclitaxel. STMN1 siRNA was transiently transfected into Eca-109 cells. The effects of transfection were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The effects of STMN1 silencing by siRNA on the sensitivity of esophageal cancer cells Eca-109 to paclitaxel was tested by MTT and colony formation assays. Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining was used to investigate the differences in Eca-109 cell apoptosis induced by paclitaxel. STMN1 siRNA was successfully transfected and the expression of STMN1 was inhibited. The sensitivity of STMN1 siRNA-transfected Eca-109 cells to paclitaxel was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The apoptosis of Eca-109 cells significantly increased following treatment with paclitaxel (P < 0.01). STMN1 silencing by siRNA may enhance the sensitivity of esophageal cancer cells Eca-109 to paclitaxel and induce apoptosis.