title: NK4 gene therapy combined with cisplatin inhibits tumour growth and metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  NK4 inhibits vascularisation in tumour tissues, thereby arresting tumour growth. However, the antitumour efficacy of individual antiangiogenic molecules expressed in vivo is not sufficiently potent to induce regression in animal models. One of the strategies to overcome this disadvantage is to use chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the efficacy of combining NK4 gene therapy with cisplatin to treat experimental squamous cell carcinomas. For gene therapy, biodegradable cationised gelatin microspheres were used for the controlled release of NK4 plasmid DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A combined regimen of antiangiogenic gene therapy and low-dose cisplatin led to a marked decrease in tumour volume and vascularity, and caused increased apoptosis compared to NK4 gene therapy alone. Moreover, combination treatment of NK4 gene therapy and low-dose cisplatin dramatically inhibited the formation of lung metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NK4 gene therapy combined with low-dose cisplatin may be an effective regimen for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kanagawa Dental College, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238-8580, Japan. oslab@kdcnet.ac.jp
authors.forename: Goichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Omi
authors.forename: Ushaku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C066855:HGF protein, human; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D002945:Cisplatin