title: Adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer using degradable starch microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When gene therapy is performed for malignant tumors, gene transfer efficiency and selectivity are extremely important. The delivery of anticancer agents and embolic agents through tumor feeding artery is known as transarterial embolization. We speculated that genes might be efficiently and selectively transferred to hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) by degradable starch microspheres (DSM) as the embolic agent, which could be trapped within the tumor and release a gene vector. Therefore, we studied the use of DSM for adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer to HCC in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  HCC was induced in rats with diethylnitrosamine and phenobarbital, after which either AxCALacZ and DSM or AxCALacZ alone was injected through the hepatic artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological examination revealed that beta-galactosidase expression was greater (P < 0.001), and more selective (P < 0.001) in tumors after injection of AxCALacZ and DSM, than after injection of the vector alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injection of DSM together with an adenovirus vector through the hepatic artery can result in efficient and cancer-selective transfer of genes to HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Institute of DNA Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. hs0817@ss.iij4u.or.jp
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiba
authors.forename: Tomoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Yasuro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Futagawa
authors.forename: Takeyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanaga
authors.forename: Toya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Yoshikatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eto
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013213:Starch
chemical_list: D013213:Starch