A method of treating a subject suffering from cancer includes administering an effective amount of a RNA molecule to the subject, wherein the RNA molecule is isolated or derived from a plant of the genus Taxus. A method of inhibiting growth or proliferation of cancer cells includes contacting cancer cells with the RNA molecule; and a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer includes the RNA molecule and a pharmaceutically tolerable excipient. Also a double-stranded RNA molecule and a recombinant vector include the double-stranded RNA molecule.