title: mda-7/IL-24: exploiting cancer's Achilles' heel.
abstract: The mda-7/IL-24 cDNA was isolated almost a decade ago in a screen for genes differentially upregulated following growth arrest and terminal differentiation of a human melanoma cell line employed as an in vitro cell differentiation model. The underlying rationale for the screen was that oncogenesis arises from a cellular dedifferentiation process culminating in uncontrolled proliferation and acquisition of invasive and metastatic potential. Identification of genes upregulated during the process of reactivation of faulty or inoperational differentiation maintenance programs was postulated to have cancer gene therapeutic potential. In this context, it is heartening to note that mda-7/IL-24 has made a methodical and progressive journey, from an unidentified novel sequence with little homology to known genes at its time of isolation to currently having the status of a molecule belonging to the IL-10-related family of cytokines, with considerable cancer gene therapeutic potential. Extensive in vitro and in vivo human tumor xenograft studies have established its transformed cell apoptosis-inducing capacity in various model systems. It has recently taken an important step for a candidate cancer gene therapeutic molecule, in the ultimate goal of benchtop to clinic, by being currently utilized in human Phase I/II clinical trials. This review provides a current perspective of our understanding of mda-7/IL-24, including established and more recent information about the molecular properties, specificity of anti-tumor-cell apoptosis-inducing activity, and underlying mechanisms of this action relative to its cancer gene therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Lebedeva
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sauane
authors.forename: Rahul V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gopalkrishnan
authors.forename: Devanand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Zhao-Zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nemunaitis
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Adly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yacoub
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000099180:Interleukin-24
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000099180:Interleukin-24