title: Retroviral vector-producer cell mediated angiogenesis inhibition restricts neuroblastoma growth in vivo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether gene therapy-mediated delivery of an angiogenesis inhibitor, a truncated, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (Flk-1/KDR, VEGFR-2), could suppress tumor growth in a murine model of neuroblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine fibroblasts producing a replication-defective retrovirus encoding this mutant form of flk-1 were made. These producer cells were mixed with neuroblastoma cells and injected subcutaneously into SCID mice. Subsequent tumor growth was then measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Murine neuroblastoma growth was decreased by 95% after 25 days. Similar tumor growth inhibitory effects were observed when the flk-1 producer cells were co-injected with cells from two different human neuroblastoma cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuroblastoma growth can be significantly restricted in vivo with a single injection of cells that produce a retroviral vector encoding the gene for an angiogenesis inhibitor. This suggests that gene therapy-mediated delivery can be an effective alternative to chronic administration of these cytostatic anticancer agents.
authors: Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. andrew.davidoff@stjude.org
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Davidoff
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Leary
authors: C Y
authors: CY
authors: Ng
authors: E F
authors: EF
authors: Vanin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000235:genetics*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D012190:Retroviridae; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor