Background Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare human genetic disorder characterized by increased UV sensitivity, developmental abnormalities and premature aging. Cells isolated from individuals with CS have a defect in transcription-coupled DNA repair. Despite the repair defect, there is no any increased risk of spontaneous or UV-induced cancer for CS individuals. The strategy of RNA interfering was used here to explore the potential radiosensitizing and anticancer activity of targeting CS group B (CSB) gene.Methods The vectors encoding CSB-specific siRNAs were constructed by inserting duplex siRNA encoding oligonucleotides into the plasmid psilencer TM 3.1. The cell lines expressing the CSB-siRNA were generated from HeLa cells transfected with the above vectors. Colony-forming ability was used to assay cell survival. Cell cycle was analyzed by FACScan flow cytometry. The apoptosis was measured by detecting the accumulation of sub-G1 population as well as by fluorescence staining assay. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)was used to semi-quantify mRNA expression. Protein level was detected by West blotting analysis.Results Two constructs encoding CSB-specific siRNA were generated, both of them resulted in remarkable suppression on CSB expression in HeLa cells, and led to an increased sensitivity to γ-ray and UV light.siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB decreased cell proliferation rate, increased spontaneous apoptosis as well as the occurrence of UV- or cisplatin-induced apoptosis by 2 to 3.5 fold. A significant S phase blockage and a remarkable reduction of G1 population were induced in control HeLa cells at 18 hours after being exposed to 10J/m2 of UV light. The S phase blockage was also observed in UV-irradiated CSB-siRNA transfected HeLa cells,but the extent of increased S phase population was lower than that in the UV-irradiated control cells. No or a relative weak reduction on G1 phase population was observed in UV-irradiated CSB-siRNA transfected HeLa cells. In addition, siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB promoted the elimination of G2/M phase cells after UV light radiation.Conclusions siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB causes cells to proliferate more slowly, sensitize cells to genotoxicants, and modify UV radiation-induced cell cycle changes. siRNA-mediated inactivation of CSB could be an attractive strategy for ameliorating cancer therapy, which can be fulfilled via the combination of gene therapy and sensitization of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.