Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
12
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-11-19
pubmed:abstractText
Transfer and expression of suicide genes is one cornerstone of cancer gene therapy and is also considered as a proactive tool to enhance the safety of somatic transgenesis. Here we addressed whether retrovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy would result in a predictable antitumor efficiency, given that problems related to gene transfer are solved or that the suicide gene is used in a proactive approach. Using retroviral vectors encoding the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus, we transduced EL-4 lymphoma cells and induced experimental tumors in congeneic C57Bl/6 mice. Systemic administration of ganciclovir (GCV) resulted in remission of transduced clonal and polyclonal tumors in vivo. However, GCV-resistant relapses occurred and were found to be associated with postinsertional alterations of transgene structure or loss of the entire transgene. Complete loss of a retrovirally marked fusion chromosome was confirmed by spectral karyotyping. Transgene silencing occurred in another clone. We conclude that genetic as well as epigenetic instability related to biologic features of the tumor, the insertion site, and the vector represent relevant limitations of retroviral suicide gene therapy. Considering the mechanisms of escape identified here, the proactive use of suicide genes to prevent complications of insertional mutagenesis may still be efficient.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0006-4971
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
104
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
3543-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Tumor cells escape suicide gene therapy by genetic and epigenetic instability.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Cell & Virus Genetics, Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Hamburg, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't