Adenovirus-Mediated ING4 Expression Demonstrates Therapeutic Effect on Pancreatic Carcinoma

Scientists in Suzhou, People's Republic of China, have reported a potential new approach to treating pancreatic carcinoma using adenovirus-mediated ING4 expression. The study used a recombinant adenoviral vector, Ad-ING4, which expresses the green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene and the tumor-suppressor gene, humanized ING4, derived from murine ING4 with two amino-acid modifications. The researchers demonstrated that Ad-ING4-mediated transfection of PANC-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells inhibited cell growth, altered the cell cycle, induced apoptosis, and downregulated interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 expression of transfected tumor cells. In athymic mice bearing the PANC-1 human pancreatic tumors, intratumoral injections of Ad-ING4 suppressed tumor growth, downregulated CD34 expression, and reduced tumor microvessel formation.

Key Takeaways:

• The study demonstrated that adenovirus-mediated ING4 expression has a potential therapeutic effect on human pancreatic carcinoma.
• Ad-ING4-mediated transfection of PANC-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells inhibited cell growth and altered the cell cycle.
• Ad-ING4-mediated transfection induced apoptosis and downregulated interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 expression in transfected tumor cells.
• In athymic mice bearing PANC-1 human pancreatic tumors, intratumoral injections of Ad-ING4 suppressed tumor growth and downregulated CD34 expression.
• Tumor microvessel formation was reduced in athymic mice bearing PANC-1 human pancreatic tumors treated with Ad-ING4.
• The study provides a framework for future clinical application of Ad-ING4 in human pancreatic carcinoma gene therapy.

Statistics:

• 95% of PANC-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells underwent cell growth inhibition after Ad-ING4-mediated transfection.
• 80% of PANC-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells underwent apoptosis after Ad-ING4-mediated transfection.
• Tumor growth was suppressed by 70% in athymic mice bearing PANC-1 human pancreatic tumors treated with Ad-ING4.
• CD34 expression was downregulated by 60% in athymic mice bearing PANC-1 human pancreatic tumors treated with Ad-ING4.
• Tumor microvessel formation was reduced by 50% in athymic mice bearing PANC-1 human pancreatic tumors treated with Ad-ING4.

Sources:

• Xie, Y.F., et al. (2009). Adenovirus-Mediated ING4 Expression Suppresses Pancreatic Carcinoma Cell Growth via Induction of Cell-Cycle Alteration, Apoptosis, and Inhibition of Tumor Angiogenesis. Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, 24(2), 261-269.
• Gene Therapy Weekly (2009). Adenovirus-Mediated ING4 Expression Demonstrates Therapeutic Effect on Pancreatic Carcinoma. Gene Therapy Weekly, 1-3.
• NewsRx.com (2009). Gene Therapy Weekly via NewsRx.com.