Ectopic production of MDA-7/IL-24 inhibits invasion and migration of human lung cancer cells.

We have previously observed the suppression of lung tumor growth in response to overexpression of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7)/interleukin-24 (IL-24; approved gene symbol IL24) in vitro and in vivo. MDA-7/IL-24 exerts its tumor-suppressive effects by multiple mechanisms, including the activation of the caspase cascade and the inhibition of angiogenesis. In this study, we used an adenoviral vector (Ad-mda7) to examine the effect of the ectopic production of MDA-7/IL-24 on cell migration and invasion by human non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells. Lung tumor cells (H1299 and A549) treated in vitro with Ad-mda7 migrated and invaded less than cells treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Ad-Luc (vector control). MDA-7/IL-24 inhibited migration and invasion by down-regulating the production of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, focal adhesion kinase, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 relative to PBS and Ad-Luc. Furthermore, tumor cells treated with Ad-mda7 ex vivo or with DOTAP:Chol-mda7 complex in vivo formed significantly fewer tumors in an experimental lung metastasis model. These results show that MDA-7/IL-24 inhibits invasion and migration by lung cancer cells by down-regulating proteins associated with these processes, resulting in reduced metastasis. Thus, Ad-mda7 should be considered a therapeutic agent that can inhibit primary tumor growth and prevent metastasis.