Breaking tumor-induced immunosuppression with 5'-triphosphate siRNA silencing TGFβ and activating RIG-I

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a pattern recognition receptor that is activated by 5'-triphosphate RNA molecules to induce type I interferon secretion and apoptosis in response to viral infection. We have designed a bifunctional small-interfering RNA that combines transforming growth factor β silencing with RIG-I activation to break tumor-induced immunosuppression. This strategy showed therapeutic efficacy in a murine model of pancreatic cancer.