RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved process of gene silencing in multiple organisms, which has become a powerful tool for investigating gene function by reverse genetics. Herein, we constructed a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) lentiviral expression vector targeting a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) gene in the CFPAC-1 cell (a type of cell strain of human pancreatic cancer) in order to observe the inhibitory effect of APRIL gene's shRNA on the growth of the CFPAC-1 cell in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that lentivirus-mediated RNAi effectively inhibited the expression of APRIL mRNA and protein in CFPAC-1 cells. Moreover, it can inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Our study indicates that lentivirus-mediated gene therapy is an attractive strategy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and justifies the use of lentivirus in cancer gene therapy studies.

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