Bivalent siRNA chimeras and methods of use thereof

1. A bivalent aptamer-siRNA chimera comprising:

first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends comprise an aptamer that specifically binds a target protein; and

an siRNA construct between the first and second ends, wherein the siRNA construct is processed by cellular RNAi machinery to produce at least two different siRNAs that specifically inhibit expression of two or more different genes in a cell expressing the target protein.

2. The chimera of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the two or more different genes are survivin and EGFR and the target protein is PMSA.

3. The chimera of claim 1 , wherein the two or more different genes are oncogenes selected from the group consisting of ABL1, ABL2, AKT1, AKT2, ATF1, BCL11A, BCL2, BCL3, BCL6, BCR, BRAF, CARD11, CBLB, CBLC, CCND1, CCND2, CCND3, CDX2, CTNNB1, DDB2, DDIT3, DDX6, DEK, EGFR, ELK4, ERBB2, ETV4, ETV6, EVI1, EWSR1, FEV, FGFR1, FGFR1OP, FGFR2, FUS, GOLGA5, GOPC, HMGA1, HMGA2, HRAS, IRF4, JUN, KIT, KRAS, LCK, LMO2, MAF, MAFB, MAML2, MDM2, MET, MITF, MPL, MYB, MYC, MYCL1, MYCN, NCOA4, NFKB2, NRAS, NTRK1, NUP214, PAX8, PDGFB, PIK3CA, PIM1, PLAG1, PPARG, PTPN11, RAF1, REL, RET, ROS1, SMO, SS18, TCL1A, TET2, TFG, MLL, TLX1, TPR, and USP6.

4. The chimera of claim 1 , wherein the target protein is selected from the group consisting of CLPP, CEA, Her-2/neu, Bladder Tumor Antigen, Thyroglobulin, Alpha-fetoprotein, PSA, CA 125, CA19.9, CA 15.3, leptin, prolactin, osteopontin, IGF-II, CD98, fascin, sPIgR, EpCAM, transferrin receptor, CD44, AXL, Human matrix metalloprotease 9, VEGFR, EGFR, Her3, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, Chemokine receptors, CD3, CD4, CD8, TNFR, L (P,E) selectin, and 14-3-3 eta.

5. The chimera of claim 3 , wherein the target protein is PMSA.

6. The chimera of claim 1 , wherein the target protein is a tumor neovascular antigen.

7. A method for treating prostate cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising:

administering to the subject and effective amount of the chimera of claim 2 .

8. A method for killing cancer cells in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of a bivalent siRNA chimera to induce or promote apoptosis of the cancer cells, wherein the bivalent siRNA chimera comprises first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends comprise an aptamer that specifically binds a cell surface protein expressed by the cancer cells; and an siRNA construct (two or more tandem siRNAs) between the first and second ends, wherein the siRNA construct is processed by cellular RNAi machinery of the cancer cells to produce at least two different siRNAs that specifically inhibit expression of two or more different genes in the cancer cells to promote apoptosis of the cancer cells.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the two or more different genes comprise survivin.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the two or more different genes comprise an oncogene expressed by the cancer cell.

11. A method for reducing tumor burden in a subject in need thereof comprising:

administering to the subject an effective amount of a bivalent siRNA chimera to induce or promote apoptosis of the tumor cells, wherein the bivalent siRNA chimera comprises first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends comprise an aptamer that specifically binds a cell surface protein expressed by the tumor cells; and an siRNA construct between the first and second ends, wherein the siRNA construct is processed by cellular RNAi machinery of the cancer cells to produce at least two different siRNAs that specifically inhibit expression of two or more different genes in the tumor cells to promote apoptosis of the tumor cells and thereby reduce tumor burden in the subject.

12. A method of reducing tumor associated angiogenesis in a subject in need thereof comprising:

administering to the subject an effective amount of a bivalent siRNA chimera to reduce tumor associated angiogenesis, wherein the bivalent siRNA chimera comprises first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends comprise an aptamer that specifically binds a cell surface protein expressed by the tumor; and an siRNA construct between the first and second ends, wherein the siRNA construct is processed by cellular RNAi machinery of tumor to produce at least two different siRNAs that specifically inhibit expression of two or more different genes in the tumor, wherein the two or more different genes comprise EGFR and survivin.

13. A method for treating a viral infection in a subject comprising:

administering to the subject an effective amount of a bivalent siRNA chimera to inhibit expression genes of the virus infecting the subject, wherein the bivalent siRNA chimera comprises first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends comprise an aptamer that specifically binds a cell surface viral protein expressed by virally infected cells; and an siRNA construct between the first and second ends, wherein the siRNA construct is processed by cellular RNAi machinery of the cells to produce at least two different siRNAs that specifically inhibit expression of two or more different genes of the infecting virus.

14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the bivalent siRNA chimera of claim 1 .

15. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 , wherein the bivalent aptamer-siRNA chimera comprises SEQ ID NOS: 1, 5, and 8.