Direct gene transfer of a plasmid carrying the herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase gene (HSV-TK) in transplanted murine melanoma: in vivo study.
The aim of the study was to use a virus-free system to transfer the Herpes Simplex Virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene in mice bearing melanoma tumours. B16 F1 murine melanoma cells were injected subcutaneously. On days 11 and 14, an intratumoral injection of either naked plasmid containing the HSV-TK gene (pAG0) or pAG0-lipofectamine complexes was given. Ganciclovir (120 mg/kg/day) was given for 5 days starting on day 14. Tumour weight reduction (40-50%) was observed in treated animals versus different control groups. Moreover, histopathological analysis on tumours showed large areas of cavitary necrosis (85%) in treated groups compared to controls (10%). Using a simple and safe method, the results presented here demonstrated that virus-free mediated delivery of the HSV-TK gene is efficient in vivo in murine malignant melanoma.
Soubrane
C
C
Medical Oncology Department, Salpetrière Hospital, Paris, France.
Mouawad
R
R
Rixe
O
O
Calvez
V
V
Ghoumari
A
A
Verola
O
O
Weil
M
M
Khayat
D
D
D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008297:Male; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D013937:Thymidine Kinase