uPAR RNAi plasmid

uPAR RNAi plasmid is a nucleic acid-based therapeutic construct designed to silence the expression of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) through RNA interference. Often utilized in preclinical oncology research, these plasmids express short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) that target uPAR mRNA for degradation, thereby reducing protein levels. The uPAR system is frequently overexpressed in aggressive cancers, including glioma, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, where it promotes tumor invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. By downregulating uPAR (and sometimes co-targeting its ligand, uPA), the plasmid aims to inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis. While extensively studied in academic settings, particularly by researchers at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, it has not transitioned into formal clinical development under a specific commercial sponsor.

Other names

uPAR shRNA plasmiduPAR/uPA RNAi plasmiduPAR-targeted RNAi plasmid