Gene Therapy Kills cancer cells

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All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been shown to enhance the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) and the bystander effect (BSE) in suicide gene therapy. These in turn improve effects of suicide gene t... herapies for several tumor types. However, whether ATRA can improve BSE remains unclear in suicide gene therapy for breast cancer. In the present study, MCF-7, human breast cancer cells were treated with ATRA in combination with a VEGFP-TK/CD gene suicide system developed by our group. We found that this combination enhances the efficiency of cell killing and apoptosis of breast cancer by strengthening the BSE in vitro. ATRA also promotes gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in MCF-7 cells by upregulation of the connexin 43 mRNA and protein in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that enhancement of GJIC by ATRA in suicide gene system might serve as an attractive and cost-effective strategy of therapy for breast cancer cells. Introduction Currently there is no effective treatment for patients with breast cancer in an aggressive phase. Breast cancer is caused by complex biological processes involving multi-gene mutations. Therefore any breakthrough in breast cancer treatment is likely to depend on improvement of gene therapy and development of new targeting drugs. Cytosine deaminase/5- fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) and thymidine kinase/ganciclovir [Show More]

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