Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HS-tk) gene therapy with ganciclovir (GCV) treatment has been reported to inhibit the tumor growth, which is applied to the gene therapy targeted to the malignant brain tumor. To suppress the tumor growth completely, the authors designed the HS-tk gene therapy in combination with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) gene using the hepatic metastatic model of murine colon cancer. The transduction of the HS-tk gene in combination with the GMCSF gene, followed by GCV, showed a complete inhibition of hepatic metastases of murine colon cancer, which was significantly superior to that of HS-tk gene alone. The growth of cancer cells transduced with both HS-tk and GMCSF genes was inhibited in vitro, and long-lasting antitumor immunity after hepatic metastasis of cancer cells transduced with both HS-tk and GMCSF genes was acquired. It is suggested that HS-tk gene therapy in combination with the GMCSF gene is effective for the complete inhibition of hepatic metastasis of murine colon cancer.
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PMID:Inhibition of establishment of hepatic metastasis in mice by combination gene therapy using both herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor genes in murine colon cancer. 940 3

Our laboratory has developed two cellular models of human prostate cancer progression. The LNCaP prostate cancer progression model is based upon the well-known cellular interaction between human prostate or bone stromal cells and LNCaP cells in vivo. The marginally tumorigenic LNCaP cells acquired tumorigenic and metastatic potential upon cellular interaction with either prostate or bone fibroblasts. A subline termed C4-2 was observed to grow readily in castrated animals and acquired metastatic potential spreading from the primary tumor site to the lymph node, the seminal vesicles, and the axial skeleton, resulting in an intense osteoblastic reaction. The second model is ARCaP, where prostate cancer cells derived from the ascites fluid of a man with metastatic disease exhibited an Androgen- and estrogen-Repressed Prostate Cancer cell growth and tumor formation in either a hormone-deficient or a castrated environment. However, the growth of either the tumor cells in vitro or the tumors in vivo was suppressed by both estrogen and androgen. While the tumor cells expressed low levels of androgen receptor and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), they were highly metastatic when inoculated orthotopically. Distant metastases to a number of organs were detected, including the liver, lung, kidney, and bone. We have employed a human prostate cancer progression model as a system to study the efficacy of gene therapy. Results of the study show that whereas universal promoters, such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) promoter-driven tumor suppressors (e.g. p53, p21, and p16), were effective in inhibiting prostate tumor growth, the advantages of driving the expression of therapeutic toxic genes using a tissue-specific promoter prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and a tumor--but not tissue-specific promoter, osteocalcin (OC), are preferred. In the case of the PSA promoter, we can achieve cell-kill in PSA-producing human prostate cancer cells. To circumvent the supporting role of bone stroma for prostate cancer epithelial growth, we have recently developed a novel concept where the expression of therapeutic toxic genes is driven by a tumor--but not a tissue-specific OC promoter. Osteocalcin-thymidine kinase (OC-TK) was found to efficiently eradicate the growth of osteosarcoma, prostate, and brain tumors both in vitro and in vivo. We observed that androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells lines expressed OC-TK at higher levels than androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cell lines. We have obtained data to suggest that Ad-OC-TK plus a pro-drug acyclovir (ACV) may be used as an effective therapy to treat prostate cancer bone metastasis in models where the growth of androgen-independent PC-3 and C4-2 tumors in the bone has occurred.
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PMID:Human prostate cancer progression models and therapeutic intervention. 943 28

Pulmonary metastases are the main cause of death of patients with several types of cancer, including osteosarcoma, renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and breast cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that intralesional injection of the recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vector containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene driven by an osteocalcin (OC) promoter (Ad-OC-TK) effectively suppressed the growth of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and tumors in vivo in a tumor-specific manner when supplemented with the prodrug acyclovir (ACV). In this communication, we studied the potential efficacy of the treatment of osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases with a systemic delivery route of Ad-OC-TK supplemented with ACV. We established osteosarcoma lung metastases in nude mice by the intravenous injection of rat osteosarcoma cells, ROS 17/2.8. These cells colonized and formed tumor nodules within 1 week in the lungs of nude mice. Whereas systemic delivery of a recombinant Ad vector containing the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) gene driven by a Rous sarcoma virus universal promoter (Ad-RSV-beta-gal) resulted in the nonspecific expression of beta-gal activity in the lung parenchyma, Ad-OC-beta-gal administration resulted in specific beta-gal expression in tumor cells deposited in the lung. When nude mice bearing ROS 17/2.8 lung tumors were treated with systemic Ad-OC-TK through tail vein administration, subsequent intraperitoneal ACV treatment significantly decreased the number of tumor nodules (P < .0001) and the net lung wet weight (P = .0005) while significantly increasing (.005 < P < .01) the survival of animals, when compared with untreated and Ad-OC-TK- or ACV-treated control groups. These results suggest that Ad-OC-TK/ACV may be used as a systemic therapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma lung metastasis.
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PMID:In vivo suppression of osteosarcoma pulmonary metastasis with intravenous osteocalcin promoter-based toxic gene therapy. 982 46

Tumor-directed gene therapy faces many obstacles. Lack of tissue targeting and low in vivo transduction efficiency represent some of the limitations for a successful therapeutic outcome. A thymidine kinase-deleted mutant vaccinia virus has been shown in marker studies to replicate selectively in tumor tissue in animal models. Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), from E. coli, converts the nontoxic prodrug 6-methylpurine deoxyriboside (6-MPDR) to the toxic purine 6-methylpurine. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic properties of PNP, expressed by an optimized synthetic early/late promoter in a vaccinia virus (vMPPNP). In vitro cytotoxicity of psoralen-inactivated vMPPNP (1 microg of psoralen, 4 min of LWUV [365 nm]) at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 6-MPDR (80 microM) reduced cell viability by day 3 to 1.7%. At an MOI of 0.002, replication-competent vMPPNP and 6-MPDR (80 microM) caused reduction of cell viability to 19.8% within 4 days. Furthermore, there was complete abrogation of viral replication after intracellular conversion of prodrug into the active toxin. The potency of such a system was similar among all histologies tested. Finally, the cytotoxic efficacy has been shown to be more rapid and complete than that of cytosine deaminase (CD), a more established enzyme/prodrug system. When virus was delivered intraperitoneally into athymic mice with hepatic metastases, followed by administration of prodrug, there was a significant prolongation of survival and a 30% cure rate. In summary, owing to its tumor-targeting capabilities, high transduction efficiency, and high gene expression, a vaccinia virus expressing PNP could prove to be a potent and valuable vector for tumor-targeted gene therapy.
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PMID:Thymidine kinase-deleted vaccinia virus expressing purine nucleoside phosphorylase as a vector for tumor-directed gene therapy. 1009 8

For patients with local recurrence of prostate cancer after definitive irradiation therapy there is no treatment widely considered safe and effective. After extensive preclinical testing of prodrug gene therapy in vitro and in vivo, we conducted a phase I dose escalation clinical trial of intraprostatic injection of a replication-deficient adenovirus (ADV) containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk) injected directly into the prostate, followed by intravenous administration of the prodrug ganciclovir (GCV). Our goal was to determine safe dose levels of the vector for future trials of efficacy. Patients with a rising serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and biopsy confirmation of local recurrence of prostate cancer without evidence of metastases one or more years after definitive irradiation therapy were eligible for the trial. After giving informed consent, patients received injections of increasing concentrations of ADV/HSA-tk in 1 ml into the prostate under ultrasound guidance. Ganciclovir was then given intravenously for 14 days (5 mg/kg every 12 hr). Patients were monitored closely for evidence of toxicity and for response to therapy. Eighteen patients were treated at 4 escalating doses: group 1 (n = 4) received 1 x 10(8) infectious units (IU); group 2 (n = 5) received 1 x 10(9) IU; group 3 (n = 4) received 1 x 10(10) IU; group 4 (n = 5) received 1 x 10(11) IU. Vector was detected by PCR of urine samples after treatment, increasing in frequency and duration (up to 32 days) as the dose increased. All cultures of blood and urine specimens were negative for growth of adenovirus. Minimal toxicity (grade 1-2) was encountered in four patients. One patient at the highest dose level developed spontaneously reversible grade 4 thrombocytopenia and grade 3 hepatotoxicity. Three patients achieved an objective response, one each at the three highest dose levels, documented by a fall in serum PSA levels by 50% or more, sustained for 6 weeks to 1 year. This study is the first to demonstrate the safety of ADV/HSV-tk plus GCV gene therapy in human prostate cancer and the first to demonstrate anticancer activity of gene therapy in patients with prostate cancer. Further trials are underway to identify the optimal distribution of vector within the prostate and to explore the safety of repeat courses of gene therapy.
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PMID:In situ gene therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a phase I clinical trial. 1034 May 55

Gene therapy could potentially revolutionize the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancer. The aim of this study was to establish a practical method of gene transfer which would be applicable to human gastric cancer. Retrovirus or/and adenovirus vectors carrying the lacZ marker gene were transferred in situ by needle through an endoscopic biopsy channel into primary gastric cancer in six male beagle dogs that had been treated with N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG). In addition, an adenovirus vector carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Ad.CAGHSV-TK) gene was introduced in situ into cancer tissues in the stomach of three dogs, and the animals were treated with intravenous ganciclovir (GCV). Retrovirus-producing cells which expressed the lacZ gene were specifically localized to the injection site in the stomach. The lacZ gene was more widely transferred into the tumor by the adenovirus vector than by retrovirus-producing cells. Improvement of the needle used for gene transfer and the use of multiple injections per tumor led to more diffuse transfer of the vector into the tumor. The Ad.CAGlacZ gene was also transferred into regional lymph nodes of the stomach. Moderate to diffuse degeneration of the primary cancer tissues of the stomach was found after Ad.CAGHSV-TK/GCV gene therapy. Moreover, almost complete tissue degeneration was observed in the regional lymph nodes of the stomach. An adverse effect of HSV-TK/GCV gene therapy was acute hepatotoxicity, which was not found after Ad.CAGlacZ gene transfer, but was found after high-titer Ad.CAGHSV-TK gene transfer followed by GCV. These findings suggest that in situ gene transfer of a suicide gene followed by prodrug treatment may be applicable not only to primary tumors, but also to lymph node metastases of gastric cancer, though further study of both beneficial and adverse effects is required before clinical usage.
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PMID:In situ gene transfer and suicide gene therapy of gastric cancer induced by N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in dogs. 1055 35

Current treatment of osteosarcoma produces disappointing outcomes, and innovative therapies must be investigated. We have used retroviral vectors to transfer the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) and interleukin-2 genes to human osteosarcoma cells. Each gene was stably transduced and expressed; the HSVtk gene effectively conferred ganciclovir (GCV) susceptibility to transduced cells. A strong bystander effect was observed in vitro, whereby nontransduced tumor cells in proximity to transduced cells acquired susceptibility to GCV killing. Human osteosarcoma cells were used to develop a series of experiments in athymic nude mice to treat experimental osteosarcoma. Subcutaneously implanted mixtures of tumor cells and HSVtk vector producer cells developed into tumors that completely regressed upon administration of GCV. Subcutaneously implanted mixtures of transduced and wild-type cells showed a potent bystander effect upon administration of GCV, with complete tumor ablation when as little as 10% of the cells were HSVtk+. A significant (P < .05) antitumoral response was seen against primary tumors composed of unmodified cells when a secondary tumor of transduced cells was implanted at a distance of 1 cm, suggesting a diffusible bystander factor. The presence of interleukin-2-transduced cells improved the efficacy of treatment. A significant (P < .03) antitumoral response was seen in the treatment of established osteosarcomas by the injection of HSVtk vector producer cells.
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PMID:Bystander-mediated regression of osteosarcoma via retroviral transfer of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase and human interleukin-2 genes. 1077 Jun 26

Current therapies for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy, local radiation therapy, and cryoablation and are associated with a high rate of cure and acceptable morbidity. However, for men who have failed primary curative attempts or have metastatic disease, no effective therapy associated with acceptable morbidity exists. "Suicide" gene therapy delivered alone or in combination with other forms of treatment could potentially provide simultaneous efficacy against localized and systemic disease via the generation of cytotoxic activity and/or systemic immunity to the cancer. In this article we discuss our preclinical and clinical experience with a herpes-simplex-virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir gene-therapy protocol for prostate cancer.
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PMID:Suicide gene therapy for prostate cancer using a replication-deficient adenovirus containing the herpesvirus thymidine kinase gene. 1085 47

The activity of total thymidine kinase in serum (S-TK) has been used as a tumor maker for decades. To date such activity has been determined using [125]I-iodo-deoxyuridine as a substrate. The aim of this study was to develop a new, antibody-based technique for the measurement of cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK1) in serum. Both mono- and polyclonal antibodies against S-TK1 were used in dot blot assay. S-TK1 was characterized by SDS and IEF techniques. Sixty-five breast cancer patients were studied, including 17 preoperative and 38 postoperative tumor-free patients and 10 patients with metastases to the lymph nodes (N1-2). They were compared to patients with benign tumors (n=21) and healthy volunteers (n=11). S-TK1 was low (0-1.0 pM) in healthy volunteers, while in preoperative patients the level was increased 6-110-fold. Significant differences were observed between preoperative patients and healthy volunteers (p=0.005), preoperative patients and patients with benign tumors (p<0.001), and preoperative patients and postoperative patients without metastases (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between preoperative patients and postoperative patients with metastases (p=0.191). The S-TK activity in preoperative patients was also high in serum, but no decrease was observed following surgery. In conclusion, the anti-TK1 antibody could be a good marker for monitoring the response of breast cancer patients to therapy.
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PMID:The clinical significance of thymidine kinase 1 measurement in serum of breast cancer patients using anti-TK1 antibody. 1088 87

S-phase fraction (SPF) is a reference for cell-kinetic analysis. In this study, the links between SPF and the essential enzymes participating in the pyrimidine synthesis were investigated in breast cancer and their relationships with the natural history of the disease were compared. We measured thymidine kinase (TK) for salvage synthesis, thymidylate synthase (TS) for de novo synthesis and thymidylate kinase (TMK), which is required for both pathways. Our study population consisted of 211 premenopausal women with node-negative tumors. SPF was assessed prospectively by flow cytometry, whereas enzyme activities were measured retrospectively in cytosols using radioenzymatic methods. Among the enzymes analyzed, only TK demonstrated a strong correlation with SPF (r(s) = 0.59). In univariate analysis, high SPF and high levels of TK were associated with increased risk of developing distant recurrences (p < 0.001). Correlations with other prognostic factors (histological grade, steroid receptors, DNA ploidy status, urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1) confirmed a parallel association of SPF and TK with the most aggressive tumors. In contrast, TS and TMK were not associated with prognosis. After adjustment for SPF, the risk of relapse increased significantly with TK values. Subgroup analysis showed that additional information was provided by TK in the tumors with low SPF. When urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) was a candidate variable in multivariate analysis, TK remained significant. Combined with SPF and uPA, TK could be useful to define premenopausal node-negative patients with rapidly proliferating tumors at a high risk of metastatic disease.
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PMID:DNA-synthesizing enzymes in breast cancer (thymidine kinase, thymidylate synthase and thymidylate kinase): association with flow cytometric S-phase fraction and relative prognostic importance in node-negative premenopausal patients. 1124 12


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