R J Cristiano1. 1. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Our research has focused on developing improved delivery vectors for treating cancer by gene therapy using the tumor suppressor p53 gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant viral and non-viral vectors were used to deliver the p53 gene into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells either in culture or as a subcutaneous tumor. Transduction of tumor cells was measured by beta-gal expression while tumor cell proliferation was used to measure the effect of p53. RESULTS: High level transduction was obtained in vitro and in vivo with a recombinant adenoviral vector, resulting in tumor cell growth inhibition in both models. A targeted, non-viral gene delivery vector based on the use of an EGF/DNA polyplex also resulted in efficient (as high as 66% transduction) and specific gene delivery in vitro when replication defective adenovirus was used as an endosome release agent. CONCLUSION: These vectors now provide improved methods to deliver therapeutic genes for cancer treatment by gene therapy.
BACKGROUND: Our research has focused on developing improved delivery vectors for treating cancer by gene therapy using the tumor suppressor p53 gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant viral and non-viral vectors were used to deliver the p53 gene into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells either in culture or as a subcutaneous tumor. Transduction of tumor cells was measured by beta-gal expression while tumor cell proliferation was used to measure the effect of p53. RESULTS: High level transduction was obtained in vitro and in vivo with a recombinant adenoviral vector, resulting in tumor cell growth inhibition in both models. A targeted, non-viral gene delivery vector based on the use of an EGF/DNA polyplex also resulted in efficient (as high as 66% transduction) and specific gene delivery in vitro when replication defective adenovirus was used as an endosome release agent. CONCLUSION: These vectors now provide improved methods to deliver therapeutic genes for cancer treatment by gene therapy.