A replication-selective adenoviral vector for head and neck cancers.
OBJECTIVE
To test the oncolytic activity of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) promoter-based conditional replication-selective adenovirus vector for squamous cell carcinoma cells of the head and neck.


METHODS
In vitro study.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
A conditional replication-selective adenovirus vector in which the expression of E1a, required for viral replication, is controlled by the COX-2 promoter, Ad-COX2-E1a, was generated. Its oncolytic activity according to the levels of COX-2 and of Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor expression was tested in a series of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.


RESULTS
The respective COX-2 messenger RNA expression ratios of KB, H891, T891, T892, and L871 were 1.5, 60.0, 1.0, 14.6, and 1.3. The corresponding Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor messenger RNA expression ratios were 1, 1, 5, 3, and 1. In vitro assays showed significant growth suppression of cancer cell lines with strong expressions of COX-2.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the possibility of oncolytic therapy using the COX-2 promoter-based conditional replication-selective adenovirus for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma expressing COX-2.
Tanaka
Hironori
H
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Shirakawa
Toshiro
T
Zhang
Zhujun
Z
Hamada
Katsuyuki
K
Gotoh
Akinobu
A
Nibu
Ken-ichi
K
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014779:Virus Replication
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases