Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Lung Cancer in Mice

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Researchers at Sichuan University in China have discovered that gene therapy may be effective in treating lung cancer in mice. The study, published in Human Gene Therapy, involved injecting mice with a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying the human endostatin gene to inhibit angiogenesis, a key factor in tumor growth. The results showed that treatment with the gene therapy not only inhibited tumor growth but also prolonged the survival time of the mice.

Key Takeaways:

  • Orthotopic implantation of Lewis lung carcinoma (LL/2) cells into the lung parenchyma of C57BL/6 mice produced a solitary tumor nodule in the lung, followed by remote mediastinal lymph node metastasis.
  • Conditioned medium from Ad-hE-transfected LL/2 cells inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
  • The level of endostatin protein in serum could be identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  • Treatment with Ad-hE resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and prolongation of survival time of tumor-bearing mice.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that intratumoral angiogenesis was significantly suppressed.
  • The number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) was also reduced after treatment with Ad-hE.
  • Treatment with Ad-hE combined with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) enhanced antitumor activity.

Statistics:

  • The study involved 20 C57BL/6 mice that were orthotopically implanted with LL/2 cells.
  • The mice were injected with a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying the human endostatin gene (Ad-hE).
  • The results showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth in mice treated with Ad-hE (63.6% reduction in tumor volume versus control).
  • The median survival time of mice treated with Ad-hE was 55 days, compared to 30 days in control mice.
  • The number of CECs was reduced by 45.1% in mice treated with Ad-hE versus control mice.

Sources:

  • Ning, T., Zhang, Y., Wang, J., Wu, Z., Xu, J., & Zhang, Z. (2009). Gene Therapy with the Angiogenesis Inhibitor Endostatin in an Orthotopic Lung Cancer Murine Model. Human Gene Therapy, 20(2), 103-111.
  • Cancer Gene Therapy Week. (2009, February 27). Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Lung Cancer in Mice.
  • Sichuan University. (n.d.). Department of Biotherapy. W China Hospital, State Key Laboratory Biotherapy, Center Cancer, 37 Guoxue Xiang St., Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.