Specific CEA-producing colorectal carcinoma cell killing with recombinant adenoviral vector containing cytosine deaminase gene

AIM: To kill CEA positive colorectal carcinoma cells specifically using the E coli cytosine deaminase (CD) suicide gene, a new replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector was constructed in which CD gene was controlled under CEA promoter and its in vitro cytotoxic effects were evaluated. METHODS: Shuttle plasmid containing CD gene and regulatory sequence of the CEA gene was constructed and recombined with the right arm of adenovirus genome DNA in 293 cell strain. Dot blotting and PCR were used to identify positive plaques. The purification of adenovirus was performed with ultra-concentration in CsCl step gradients and the titration was measured with plaque formation assay. Cytotoxic effects were assayed with MTT method, The fifty percent inhibition concentration (IC(50)) of 5-FC was calculated using a curve-fitting parameter. The human colorectal carcinoma cell line, which was CEA-producing, and the CEA-nonproducing Hela cell line were applied in cytological tests. An established recombinant adenovirus vector AdCMVCD, in which the CD gene was controlled under CMV promoter, was used as virus control. Quantitative results were expressed as the mean +/- SD of the mean. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA test. RESULTS: The desired recombinant adenovirus vector was named AdCEACD. The results of dot blotting and PCR showed that the recombinant adenovirus contained CEA promoter and CD gene. Virus titer was about 5.0 X 10(14)pfu/L(-1) after purification. The CEA-producing Lovo cells were sensitive to 5-FC and had the same cytotoxic effect after infection with AdCEACD and AdCMVCD (The IC(50) values of 5-FC in parent Lovo cells, Lovo cells infected with 100 M.O.I AdCEACD and Lovo cells infected with 10 M.O.I AdCMVCD were 】15000, 216.5+/-38.1 and 128.8+/-25.4 micromol.L(-1), P【0.001, respectively), and the cytotoxicity of 5-FC increased accordingly when the m.o.i of adenoviruses were enhanced (The value of IC(50) of 5-FC was reduced to 27.9+/-4.2 micromol.L(-1) in 1000 M.O.I AdCEACD infected Lovo cells and 24.8+/-7.1 micromol.L(-1) in 100 M.O.I AdCMVCD infected Lovo cells, P【0.05, P【0.01, respectively). The CEA-nonproducing Hela cells had no effect after infection with AdCEACD, but Hela cells had the cytotoxic sensitivity to 5-FC after infection with AdCMVCD (The IC(50) of 5-FC in parent Hele cells and Hela cells infected with AdCMVCD at 10 M.O.I was 】15000 and 214.5+/-31.3 micromol.L(-1), P【0.001). AdCEACD/5-FC system also had bystander effect, and the viability was about 30 percent when the proportion of transfected cells was only 10 percent. CONCLUSION: The recombinant adenovirus vector AdCEACD has the character of cell type-specific gene delivery. The AdCEACD/5-FC system may become a new, potent and specific approach for the gene therapy of CEA-positive neoplasms, especially colon carcinoma.

Killing effects of cytosine deaminase gene mediated by adenovirus vector on human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the killing effects of the cytosine deaminase (CD) gene mediated by adenovirus vector on human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. METHODS: The CD gene was cloned into pAdTrack-CMV-CD, and pAdTrack-CMV-CD and pAdEasy-l were recombinated in bacteria. The newly recombinated Ad-CD containing green fluoreseent protein (GFP) was propagated in 293 cells and purified by cesium chloride gradient centrifugation. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines Patu8988 and SW1990 were infected with this virus, then 5-FC was added. XTT assay was used to estimate relative numbers of viable cells. RESULTS: The positive clones were selected by using endonuclease to digest the combinatants and the concentration of viral liquids containing the CD gene was 2×1O^(11) pfu/ml. It was found that significant cytotoxic activities were possesscd by 5-FC for the CD gene transduced pancreatic cell lines, but little effects exerted on the nontransduced pancreatic carcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: The CD gene mediated by adenovirus with a high infectivity is efficient for gene therapy of pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. These data demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of an enzyme prodrug strategy in experimental pancreatic cancer.

N-terminal and C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain of APOBEC3G inhibit hepatitis B virus replication

AIM: To investigate the effect of human apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic-polypeptide 3G (APOBEC3G) and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain-mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The mammalian hepatoma cells HepG2 and HuH7 were cotransfected with APOBEC3G and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain expression vector and 1.3-fold-overlength HBV DNA as well as the linear monomeric HBV of genotype B and C. For in vivo study, an HBV vector-based mouse model was used in which APOBEC3G and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain expression vectors were co-delivered with 1.3-fold-overlength HBV DNA via high-volume tail vein injection. Levels of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) in the media of the transfected cells and in the sera of mice were determined by ELISA.The expression of hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) in the transfected cells was determined by Western blot analysis. Core-associated HBV DNA was examined by Southern blot analysis. Levels of HBV DNA in the sera of mice as well as HBV core-associated RNA in the liver of mice were determined by quantitative PCR and quantitative RT-PCR analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Human APOBEC3G exerted an anti-HBV activity in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells, and comparable suppressive effects were observed on genotype B and C as that of genotype A. Interestingly, the N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain alone could also inhibit HBV replication in HepG2 cells as well as Huh7 cells. Consistent with in vitro results, the levels of HBsAg in the sera of mice were dramatically decreased, with more than 50 times decrease in the levels of serum HBV DNA and core-associated RNA in the liver of mice treated with APOBEC3G and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain as compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide probably the first evidence showing that APOBEC3G and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain could suppress HBV replication in vitro and in vivo.

Inhibitory effects of cytosine deaminase gene-transfected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on glioma cell proliferation

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from C57BL mice, transfected with the cytosine deaminase （CD） gene using a lentivirus vector and co-cultured with C6 glioma cells to verify anti-tumor effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells carrying CD genes. C57MSC-CD/eGFP cells converted 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil and exhibited significant inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis in C6 glioma cells. C57MSC-CD/eGFP cells were then implanted into rat models of brain C6 glioma. Rats were also intraperitoneally injected with 5-fluorocytosine after 7 days. MSC-CD/eGFP cells were irregularly distributed at the margin of the glioma, as well as encased and reduced the volume of the glioma. CD-transfected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibit the in vivo growth and in vitro proliferation of glioma.

Migration to gliomas of bone mesenchymal stem cells transfected with cytosine deaminase gene following transplantation in vivo

This experiment sought to observe the migration and distribution of bone mesenchymal stem cells transfected with the cytosine deaminase gone （BMSCs-CD/eGFP） after transplantation in vivo through three pathways. In addition, we examined the tropism of these cells to glioma. Intracranial C6 glioma models were established in Sprague-Dawley rats using an intracranial stereotactic inoculation method. When tumors were 7 days old, rats were inoculated with lx106 BMSCs-CD/eGFP cells via the tumor-bearing internal carotid artery, the contralateral hemisphere and the tumor-bearing glioma. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that BMSCs-CD/eGFP exhibited a strong capacity for migration to tumors. BMSCs-CD/eGFP transplanted via the tumor-bearing intemal carotid artery were observed to distribute in glioma tissues. BMSCs-CD/eGFP inoculated via the ipsilateral glioma mainly located within and at the edge of glioma tissues. BMSCs-CD/eGFP inoculated via the contralateral hemisphere mainly distributed at the proximal end of the tumor at the incubation site.

In situ transduction of cytosine deaminase gene followed by systemic use of 5-fluorocytosine inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in orthotopic prostate cancer mouse models

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor and anti-metastatic effect of in situ transduction of adenovirus encoding cytosine deaminase (AdCD) followed by the systemic use of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) in the orthotopic (o.t.) prostate cancer mouse model. METHODS: The o.t. prostate cancer model of C57BL/6 mouse was developed by o.t. inoculation of RM-1 cells to the subcapsular area of the prostate gland. In situ transduction of the CD gene, followed by systemic use of 5-FC at a daily dosage of 300 mg/kg for 14 days, was performed two days later. RESULTS: Compared with mice treated with Adbeta-gal/5-FC, 5-FC and PBS, mice of the o.t. model receiving in situ treatment of AdCD/5-FC had significant prolongation of survival and suppression of local tumor growth. More importantly, pathological observations showed that metastatic activity occurred in all mice of the PBS, 5-FC and Adbeta-gal groups including metastasis to the iliac lymph node (10/10, 10/10, 10/10) and the lung (8/10, 7/10, 7/10). However, only two out of ten had iliac lymphatic metastasis in the AdCD/5-FC group with no systemic or preaotic lymphatic metastasis, suggesting a strong metastatic inhibitory effect. CONCLUSIONS: In situ transduction of AdCD followed by systemic use of 5-FC leads to the inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastatic activity in the o.t. mouse model of prostate cancer. Clinically, it may be possible to treat metastatic or recurrent prostate cancer with a novel gene therapy using in situ injection techniques in future.

Construction of Bifidobacterium Infantis/CD Targeting Gene Therapy System

Objective： To construct Bifidobacterium Infantis/CD targeting gene therapy system. Methods： CD gene was amplified from E. Coli K12λ using PCR method, pGEX-1LamdaT plasmid and CD gene were digested with dual restriction endonucleas of EcoR Ⅰ and BamH Ⅰ and two segments of 4.9 kb and 1.3 kb were obtained. T4 DNA ligase was added to these two segments to make a recombinant CD/pGEX-1LamdaT plasmid. Then the recombinant plasmid was transfected into Bifidobacterium Infantis by electroporation. The recombinant plasmid was extracted from the positively transfected Bifidobacterium Infantis and digested with dual restriction endonucleases. Then the size of digested fragments was detected and sequencing of the gene segment inserted in extracted recombinant plasmid was performed according to the method of Sanger dideoxynucleotide triphosphate chain termination. Results： 6.2 kb recombinant plasmid was obtained from the positively transfected bacterial colony of Bifidobacterium Infantis. After being digested with dual restriction endonucleases, two segments of approximate 4.9 kb and 1.3 kb were gained from the extracted recombinant plasmid, which were equal to the size of pGEX-1LamdaT plasmid and CD gene, respectively. The full length and sequence of nucleotide acid of the inserted gene in extracted recombinant plasmid was completely identical to the CD gene. Conclusion： The foreign gene, CD gene was correctly inserted into pGEX-1LambdaT plasmid and transferred into Bifidobacterium Infantis. Bifidobacterium Infantis/CD targeting gene therapy system was successfully constructed.

Human Sulfatase-1 Improves the Effectiveness of Cytosine Deaminase Suicide Gene Therapy with 5-Fluorocytosine Treatment on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2 In Vitro and In Vivo

Background：Human sulfatase-1 （Hsulf-l） is an endosulfatase that selectively removes sulfate groups from heparan sulfate proteoglycans （HSPGs）,altering the binding of several growth factors and cytokines to HSPG to regulate cell proliferation,cell motility,and apoptosis.We investigated the role of combined cancer gene therapy with Hsulf-l and cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine （CD/5-FC） suicide gene on a hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） cell line,HepG2,in vitro and in vivo.Methods：Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression of Hsulf-1 in HCC.Cell apoptosis was observed through flow cytometry instrument and mechanism of Hsulf-1 to enhance the cytotoxicity of 5-FC against HCC was analyzed in HCC by confocal microscopy.We also establish a nude mice model of HCC to address the effect of Hsulf-1 expression on the CD/5-FC suicide gene therapy in vivo.Results：A significant decrease in HepG2 cell proliferation and an increase in HepG2 cell apoptosis were observed when Hsulf-1 expression was combined with the CD/5-FC gene suicide system.A noticeable bystander effect was observed when the Hsulf-1 and CD genes were co-expressed.Intracellular calcium was also increased after HepG2 cells were infected with the Hsulf-1 gene.In vivo studies showed that the suppression of tumor growth was more pronounced in animals treated with the Hsulf-1 plus CD than those treated with either gene therapy alone,and the combined treatment resulted in a significant increase in survival.Conclusions：Hsulf-1 expression combined with the CD/5-FC gene suicide system could be an effective treatment approach for HCC.

Bifunctional chimeric SuperCD suicide gene -YCD: YUPRT fusion is highly effective in a rat hepatoma model

AIM： To investigate the effects of catalytically superior gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy systems on a rat hepatoma model. METHODS： To increase hepatoma cell chemosensitivity for the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine （5-FC）, we generated a chimeric bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene, a fusion of the yeast cytosine deaminase （YCD） and the yeast uracil phosphoribosyltransferase （YUPRT） gene. RESULTS： In vitro stably transduced Morris rat hepatoma cells （MH） expressing the bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene （MH SuperCD） showed a clearly marked enhancement in cell killing when incubated with 5-FC as compared with MH cells stably expressing YCD solely （MH YCD） or the cytosine deaminase gene of bacterial origin （MH BCD）, respectively. In vivo, MH SuperCD tumors implanted both subcutaneously as well as orthotopically into the livers of syngeneic ACI rats demonstrated significant tumor regressions （P〈0.01） under both high dose as well as low dose systemic 5-FC application, whereas MH tumors without transgene expression （MH naive） showed rapid progression. For the first time, an order of in vivo suicide gene effectiveness （SuperCD〉〉 YCD〉〉BCD〉〉〉negative control） was defined as a result of a direct in vivo comparison of all three suicide genes. CONCLUSION： Bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene expression is highly effective in a rat hepatoma model, thereby significantly improving both the therapeutic index and the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma killing by fluorocytosine.

Science Letters:Brain metastases of melanoma-mechanisms of attack on their defence system by engineered stem cells in the microenvironment

This report gives a better emphasis on the role of targeted effectors (e.g. a combination of 5-FC with CD-NSPCs as compared to the application of NSPCs alone) and how such delivery of pro-drug activating enzymes and other tumor-killing substances may overcome melanocytic defence system, interact with and promote the host defence and immune response modulations not only in melanoma but, potentially, in other highly-metastatic cancers.

Therapeutic effect of 5-FC on YCD modified murine P388 leukemia in vivo

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of a novel suicide gene system, yeast cytosine deaminase (YCD)/5-Fluorocytosine(5-FC), on P388/DBA murine leukemia model. Methods: P388-YCD-eGFP clone was selected after retrovirus transduction by limited dilution. P388-eGFP and wild type (wt) P388 cells were used as controls. (1) Tumorigenesis study: DBA mice were inoculated intravenously with P388-YCD-eGFP, P388-eGFP or wt P388 cells at a dosage of 5×10~6 per mouse (n=5). (2) Therapeutic effect study of 5-FC: After inoculation with P388-YCD-eGFP, P388-eGFP or wt P388 cells (n=5), 5-FC was administered at a dosage of 5 μmol/d in each mouse for 2 weeks. 20 μmol/d 5-FC were administered on the 8~ th day in case 5 μmol/d did not work. The percentage of eGFP^+ cells was detected by flow cytometry, frozen section or HE section. Results: Mice in YCD, eGFP and wt P388 group developed leukemia and survived (8.0±1.0) d, (7.6±0.89) d and (7.8±1.64) d (P>0.05), respectively. After being treated with 5-FC for 2 weeks, mice in YCD and eGFP^+ groups survived (13.2±1.79) d and (8.4±0.58) d (P<0.05). When 20 μmol/d 5-FC was administered, the percentage of eGFP^+ cells dropped from 21.9%±16.09% to 5.4%±5.6%, as well detected by FACS within 24h after treatment. Conclusion: 5-FC can eliminate YCD gene modified cells in vivo when cells are inoculated intravenously. YCD is an efficient suicide gene system in vivo.

ENHANCED ANTITUMOR EFFECTS OF SUICIDE GENETHERAPY BY SIMULTANEOUS TRANSFER OF GM CSF GENE IN LEUKEMIABEARING MICE

In the present report, antitumor effect of combined transfer of suicide gene and cytokine gene was studied. Adenovirus engineered to express E. Coli. Cytosine deaminase (AdCD) and/or adenovirus engineered to express murine granulocytemacrophage colonystimulating factor (AdGMCSF) were used for the treatment of leukemiabearing mice. The mice were inoculated s.c. with FBL3 erythroleukemia cells and 3 days later received intratumoral injection of AdCD in the presence or absence of AdGMCSF followed by intraperitoneal 5fluorocytosine (5FC) treatment. The results demonstrated that mice received combined therapy of AdCD/5FC and AdGMCSF developed tumors most slowly and survived much longer when compared with mice treated with AdCD/5FC alone, AdGMCSF alone, AdlacZ/5FC or PBS. Combined transfer of CD gene and GMCSF gene achieved higher specific CTL activity than control therapies. Pathological examination illustrated that the tumor mass showed obvious necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in mice after combined therapy. The results demonstrated that combined transfer of suicide gene and cytokine gene could synergistically inhibit the growth of leukemia in mice and induce antitumor immunity of the host. The combination therapy might be a potential approach for cancer gene therapy.

Sensitization of prostate cancer cell lines to 5-fluorocytosine induced by adenoviral vector carrying a CD transcription unit

Objective To investigate the efficiency of the cytosine deaminase adenoviral/5-fluorocytosine system on prostate cancer cell lines.Methods We used cell culture, infectivity and sensitivity tests, to observe bystander effect by animal tests.Results Established prostate cancer cell lines are eventually infectible by adenoviral vector. The ratio of vector/cell at which infection occurs depends on the specific cell line. The peak of expression of the transferred cytosine deaminase gene occurred in cells at different time, but persisted beyond 11 days. These prostate cell lines are sensitized to 5-fluorocytosine by infection with adenoviral vector carrying the cytosine deaminase gene. Only 5% of the LNCap and 10% of the RM-1 cells were infected and produced 100% cell death. In the animal test, there was significant inhibition of tumor growth at a ratio of 400 vector particles/cell with the systematic treatment of 5-fluorocytosine.Conclusions Adenoviral vector carrying a cytosine deaminase transcription unit can sensitize prostate cancer cell lines to 5-fluorocytosine. The system can significantly inhibit the growth of prostatic tumors in mice.

Adenoviral mediated suicide gene transfer in the treatment of pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of adenovirus mediated suicide gene transduction combined with prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) as a therapeutic protocol for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Cytosine Deaminase(CD) gene was cloned into pAdTrack-CMV-CD, pAdTrack-CMV-CD and pAdEasy-1 were recombined in bacteria. The newly recombined adenovirus (Ad)-CD containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) were packaged and propagated in 293 cells and purified by cesium chloride gradient centrifugation. Human pancreatic carcinoma cell line-Patu8988 was infected with this virus, then 5FC was added. XTT assay was used to estimate relative numbers of viable cells. In vivo model of pancreatic cancer was established by injecting 1.0 x 10(7) Patu8988 cells subcutaneously in Balb/c nude mice. When tumors were palpable, Ad-CD was injected into each tumor and 5FC was administered. RESULTS: Positive clones were selected using endonuclease to digest the recombinants and the concentration of viral liquids containing the CD gene was 2 x 10(11) pfu /ml. Significant cytotoxic activity as shown for 5FC in the CD gene transduced 8988 cell line, while little effect was found in the nontransduced pancreatic carcinoma cells. Antitumor effect was observed in Patu8988 xenograft nude mice with in situ CD gene transduction. CONCLUSIONS: CD gene mediated by adenovirus has high infectivity and may be useful for gene therapy in pancreatic carcinoma. These data demonstrate the use of an enzyme prodrug strategy in experimental pancreatic cancer.

Pharmacokinetics and the bystander effect in CD：：UPRT/5-FC bi-gene therapy of glioma

Background Cytosine deaminase （CD） converts 5-fluorocytosine （5-FC） to 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） in CD/5-FC gene therapy, 5-FU will be mostly converted into nontoxic 13-alanine without uracil phosphoribosyltransferase （UPRT）. UPRT catalyzes the conversion of 5-FU to 5-fluorouridine monophosphate, which directly kills CD：：UPRT-expressing cells and surrounding cells via the bystander effect. But the pharmacokinetics and the bystander effect of CD：：UPRT/5-FC has not been verified in vivo and in vitro. Before the CD：：UPRT/5-FC bi-gene therapy system is used in clinical trial, it is essential to monitor the transgene expression and function in vivo. Thus, we developed a preclinical tumor model to investigate the feasibility of using ^19F-magnetic resonance spectroscopy （^19F-MRS） and optical imaging to measure non-invasive CD and UPRT expression and its bystander effect. Methods C6 and C6-CD：：UPRT cells were cultured with 5-FC. The medium, cells and their mixture were analyzed by ^19F-MRS. Rats with intracranial xenografted encephalic C6-CD：：UPRT glioma were injected intraperitoneally with 5-FC and their ^19F-MRS spectra recorded. Then the pharmacokinetics of 5-FC was proved. Mixtures of C6 and C6-CD：：UPRT cells at different ratios were cultured with 5-FC and the cytotoxic efficacy and survival rate of cells recorded. To determine the mechanism of the bystander effect, the culture media from cell comprising 25% and 75% C6-CD：：UPRT cells were examined by ^19F-MRS. A comparative study of mean was performed using analysis of variance （ANOVA）. Results ^19F-MRS on samples from C6-CD：：UPRT cells cultured with 5-FC showed three broad resonance signals corresponding to 5-FC, 5-FU and fluorinated nucleotides （F-Nuctd）. For the C6 mixture, only the 5-FC peak was detected. In vivo serial ^19F-MRS spectra showed a strong 5-FC peak and a weak 5-FU peak at 20 minutes after 5-FC injection. The 5-FU concentration reached a maximum at about 50 minutes. The F-Nuctd signal appeared after about 1 hour, reached a maximum at around 160 minutes, and was detectable for several hours. At a 10% ratio of C6-CD：：UPRT cells, the survival rate was （79.55±0.88）% （P 〈0.01）. As the C6-CD：：UPRT ratio increased, the survival rate of the cells decreased. ^19F-MRS showed that the signals for 5-FU and F-Nuctd in the culture medium increased as the ratio of C6-CD：：UPRT in the mixture increased. Conclusions ^19F-MRS studies indicated that C6-CD：：UPRT cells could effectively express CD and UPRT enzymes. The CD：：UPRT/5-FC system showed an obvious bystander effect. This study demonstrated that CD：：UPRT/5-FC gene therapy is suitable for 5-FC to F-Nuctd metabolism; and ^19F-MRS can monitor transferred CD：：UPRT gene expression and catalysis of substrates noninvasively, dynamically and quantitatively.

Therapeutic effect of AdCMVCD/5-FC system and metabolism of 5-FC in the treatment of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma

To investigate the therapeutic effect and metabolism of 5 fluorocytosine (5 FC ) in human tongue squamous carcinoma cells after treatment with adenovirus medi ated cytosine deaminase (AdCMVCD)/5 FC system Methods Human tongue squamous carcinoma cells (Tca8113 cell line) and its xenografts in BALB/c nude mice were treated with AdCMVCD/5 FC system The killing effect in vitro and bystander effect were detected by microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay Tumor inhibition effect and histopathological changes were observed in vivo High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to determine the m etabolism of 5 FC in vitro and in vivo Results AdCMVCD/5 FC system had strong killing effect and bystander effect on Tca8113 c ells Both condition media and cell extracts showed two peaks identified as 5 FC and 5 fluorouracil (5 FU) by HPLC and a time dependent generation of 5 FU and concomitant time dependent decreases of 5 FC Compared to the control gr oups, mice treated with AdCMVCD/5 FC system demonstrated significant tumor regr ession ( P <0 001); the tumor doubling time prolonged and inhibition rate was 92 62% There were substantial tumor necrotic areas and infiltrative lymphocy tes around necrotic areas in the AdCMVCD/5 FC treated group under light microsc ope There was a significantly low concentration of 5 FC and high concentratio n of 5 FU in tumor tissue, but only 5 FC was found in blood Conclusion AdCMVCD/5 FC suicide gene system had significant in vitro and in vivo anti tum or effect on human tongue squamous cell carcinoma due to convert 5 FC into 5 F U

Augmentation of antitumor effect of adenovirus-mediated CD suicide gene therapy by cotransfer of interleukin 2 gene in melanoma-bearing mice

Objective To investigate the antitumor effect of combined adenovirus encoding E. coli cytosine deaminase (AdCD) and adenovirus encoding murine interleukin 2 (AdIL 2) on murine melanoma. Methods C57BL/6 mice were inoculated s.c.with B16F10 melanoma cells and 3 days later received injections of AdCD and/or AdIL 2 at the site of tumor inoculation followed by administration of 5 flurocytosine (5FC) 300 mg/kg per day for 10 days. Results Mice receiving AdCD/5FC/AdIL2 therapy developed tumors more slowly and survived much longer when compared with mice treated with AdCD/5FC, AdIL2, AdlacZ/5FC, or PBS. Immunological analysis illustrated that combined treatment could enhance NK activity and CTL activity. Flow cytometry demonstrated that AdCD/5FC/AdIL2 therapy increased the expression of MHC I and CD80 molecules on freshly isolated tumor cells. The CD4 + and CD8 + T cell infiltration in the tumor increased significantly after the combined therapy. Conclusions Our data showed that combined transfer of CD suicide gene and IL 2 gene could inhibit the tumor growth more significantly. The increased specific and non specific antitumor immunity might be responsible for the enhanced therapeutic effect.

Effects of radiation-induced suicide gene therapy under radiation of radionuclide 125I on human hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro

There are few efficient therapeutic approaches to hepatocarcinoma.Chen et al1 developed iodine （131I） metuximab injection （Licartin）,a novel 131I-labeled HAb18G/CD147-specific monoclonal antibody Fab＇2 fragment.HAb18G/CD147 is a hepatocellular carcinoma-associated antigen.But their results have no obvious improvements in survival rate of patients with hepatocarcinoma.Keywords：radiation effects; promoter regions, genetic lentivirus; cytosine deaminase; fluorocytosine; HepG2 cells