Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42592452›Full record

ReviewRSC chemical biology2026

Current landscape of RNA chemistry and delivery in cancer immunotherapy.

Hayden Tobias, Sarah Porter, Isabella Marcelo, Abigail Koons, Soren C Spina, Courtney Culkins, Blaise R Kimmel

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in RSC chemical biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hayden TobiasDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.
Sarah PorterDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.
Isabella MarceloDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.
Abigail KoonsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.
Soren C SpinaDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.
Courtney CulkinsDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.
Blaise R KimmelDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9582-9887

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are programmable nucleic acids that play key roles in chemical biology and can selectively silence disease-associated genes through RNA interference (RNAi). These programmable nucleic acids have emerged as a powerful class of medicines and chemical biology tools that can rewire tumor-immune signaling, target immunosuppressive genes, stimulate immune responses, and boost the immune system against immune-mediated diseases. Recent success in the rapid synthesis and applications of siRNA highlights the potential of this technology to address previously "undruggable" targets across a range of genetic, metabolic, and oncologic diseases. Despite the potential of these siRNA-based therapies, including those used in cancer immunotherapy, challenges such as off-target effects during delivery, chemical degradation of siRNA in the body, and immunogenicity limit their efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical biology and chemical modifications inherent to the design of robust siRNA therapies; the nucleic acid structure-function relationships that dictate the cellular mechanisms underlying siRNA-mediated gene silencing and efficacy; and the current clinical landscape and safety of approved siRNA therapeutics for immunotherapy. We examine the growing role of computationally guided design strategies and emerging machine-learning-based methods in optimizing siRNA chemical design, and outline how recent advances in siRNA chemical modification are expected to improve targeted gene modulation in the clinic. Additionally, we examine the role of delivery systems in enhancing siRNA potency, with an emphasis on tumor-targeted and tissue-specific approaches, as well as emerging combination therapies integrating siRNA with chemotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, siRNA and mRNA co-delivery, and prodrug activation.

Identifiers

PMID42592452
PMCPMC13464625

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.