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Devarajan A. Optically Controlled CRISPR-Cas9 and Cre Recombinase for Spatiotemporal Gene Editing: A Review. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:25-44. [PMID: 38134336 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 and Cre recombinase, two tools extensively used for genome interrogation, have catalyzed key breakthroughs in our understanding of complex biological processes and diseases. However, the immense complexity of biological systems and off-target effects hinder clinical applications, necessitating the development of platforms to control gene editing over spatial and temporal dimensions. Among the strategies developed for inducible control, light is particularly attractive as it is noninvasive and affords high spatiotemporal resolution. The principles for optical control of Cas9 and Cre recombinase are broadly similar and involve photocaged enzymes and small molecules, engineered split- and single-chain constructs, light-induced expression, and delivery by light-responsive nanocarriers. Few systems enable spatiotemporal control with a high dynamic range without loss of wild-type editing efficiencies. Such systems posit the promise of light-activatable systems in the clinic. While the prospect of clinical applications is palpably exciting, optimization and extensive preclinical validation are warranted. Judicious integration of optically activated CRISPR and Cre, tailored for the desired application, may help to bridge the "bench-to-bedside" gap in therapeutic gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archit Devarajan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhauri, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India - 462066
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A R, Kunimura N, Tominaga S, Hirata E, Nishioka S, Uesugi M, Yamazaki R, Ueki H, Kitagawa K, Fujisawa M, Shirakawa T. A recombinant adenovirus vector containing the synNotch receptor gene for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1147668. [PMID: 37064130 PMCID: PMC10090503 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1147668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known as the most difficult molecular subtype of breast cancer to treat. Recent studies revealed that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in TNBC recurrence and metastasis. In this study, we developed a recombinant replication-deficient adenoviral vector (Ad-CD44-N-HIF-3α4), which contains a gene encoding a synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptor composed of the extracellular domain of CD44 (CD44-ECD) and the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-3α4 connected by the Notch core regulatory region. CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein and known as a CSC marker in breast cancer and other malignancies. HIF-3α4 is a dominant-negative regulator of HIF-1α and HIF-2α and inhibits hypoxia-inducing effect. Both CD44 and HIF signals contribute cancer stemness and maintaining CSCs in breast cancer. The CD44-ECD in the synNotch receptor acts as the CD44 decoy receptor, and after a ligand such as a hyaluronic acid binds to the CD44-ECD, HIF-3α4 is released from the Notch core domain. We performed an in vivo study using a mouse xenograft model of MDA-MB-231, a highly invasive TNBC cell, and confirmed the significant antitumor activity of the intratumoral injections of Ad-CD44-N-HIF3α4. Our findings in this study warrant the further development of Ad-CD44-N-HIF3α4 for the treatment of patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhan A
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Naoto Kunimura
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shoko Tominaga
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Erika Hirata
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shunya Nishioka
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Misato Uesugi
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Rion Yamazaki
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hideto Ueki
- Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Koichi Kitagawa
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Masato Fujisawa
- Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Toshiro Shirakawa
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
- Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- *Correspondence: Toshiro Shirakawa,
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Abstract
Nucleic acids are paving the way for advanced therapeutics. Unveiling the genome enabled a better understanding of unique genotype-phenotype profiling. Methods for engineering and analysis of nucleic acids, from polymerase chain reaction to Cre-Lox recombination, are contributing greatly to biomarkers' discovery, mapping of cellular signaling cascades, and smart design of therapeutics in precision medicine. Investigating the different subtypes of DNA and RNA via sequencing and profiling is empowering the scientific community with valuable information, to be used in advanced therapeutics, tracking epigenetics linked to disease. Recent results from the application of nucleic acids in novel therapeutics and precision medicine are very encouraging, demonstrating great potential to treat cancer, viral infections via inoculation (e.g., SAR-COV-2 mRNA vaccines), along with metabolic and genetic disorders. Limitations posed by challenges in delivery mode are being addressed to enable efficient guided-gene-programmed precision therapies. With the focus on genetic engineering and novel therapeutics, more precisely, in precision medicine, this chapter discusses the advance enabled by knowledge derived from these innovative branches of biotechnology.
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Yoneda T, Kunimura N, Kitagawa K, Fukui Y, Saito H, Narikiyo K, Ishiko M, Otsuki N, Nibu KI, Fujisawa M, Serada S, Naka T, Shirakawa T. Overexpression of SOCS3 mediated by adenovirus vector in mouse and human castration-resistant prostate cancer cells increases the sensitivity to NK cells in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Gene Ther 2019; 26:388-399. [PMID: 30607005 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-018-0075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. The overactivation of IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling and silencing of SOCS3 are frequently observed in prostate cancer. In the present study we undertook to develop Ad-SOCS3 gene therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer and also investigated whether Ad-SOCS3 increased sensitivity to NK cells. We demonstrated that Ad-SOCS3 could significantly inhibit growth of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell lines expressing pSTAT3, DU-145 (at 10, 20, and 40 MOI), and TRAMP-C2 (at 40 MOI), but not the PC-3 CRPC cell line with the STAT3 gene deleted. Ad-SOCS3 (40 MOI) could suppress IL-6 production in DU-145 cells and PD-L1 expression induced by IFN-γ in TRAMP-C2 cells, and increased the NK cell sensitivity of both TRAMP-C2 and DU-145 cells. In the DU-145 mouse xenograft tumor model, intratumoral injections (twice/week for 3 weeks) of 1 × 108 pfu of Ad-SOCS3 significantly inhibited tumor growth and combining the Ad-SOCS3 treatment with intratumoral injections (once/week for 2 weeks) of 1 × 107 human NK cells showed the highest tumor growth inhibitory effect. These results suggested that a combination of Ad-SOCS3 gene therapy and NK cell immunotherapy could be a powerful treatment option for advanced CRPC overexpressing pSTAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Yoneda
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Naoto Kunimura
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Koichi Kitagawa
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yuka Fukui
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hiroki Saito
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Keita Narikiyo
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Motoki Ishiko
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Naoki Otsuki
- Division of Otolaryngology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Nibu
- Division of Otolaryngology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Masato Fujisawa
- Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Satoshi Serada
- Center for Intractable Immune Disease, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Naka
- Center for Intractable Immune Disease, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
| | - Toshiro Shirakawa
- Division of Advanced Medical Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe, Japan. .,Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
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Gremonprez F, Willaert W, Ceelen W. Animal models of colorectal peritoneal metastasis. Pleura Peritoneum 2016; 1:23-43. [PMID: 30911606 DOI: 10.1515/pp-2016-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer remains an important cause of mortality worldwide. The presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) causes significant symptoms and is notoriously difficult to treat. Therefore, informative preclinical research into the mechanisms and possible novel treatment options of colorectal PC is essential in order to improve the prognostic outlook in these patients. Several syngeneic and xenograft animal models of colorectal PC were established, studying a wide range of experimental procedures and substances. Regrettably, more sophisticated models such as those giving rise to spontaneous PC or involving genetically engineered mice are lacking. Here, we provide an overview of all reported colorectal PC animal models and briefly discuss their use, strengths, and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Gremonprez
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Willaert
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Ceelen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, 2K12 IC UZ Gent De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Iwahori K, Serada S, Fujimoto M, Nomura S, Osaki T, Lee CM, Mizuguchi H, Takahashi T, Ripley B, Okumura M, Kawase I, Kishimoto T, Naka T. Overexpression of SOCS3 exhibits preclinical antitumor activity against malignant pleural mesothelioma. Int J Cancer 2010; 129:1005-17. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Kanegae Y, Terashima M, Kondo S, Fukuda H, Maekawa A, Pei Z, Saito I. High-level expression by tissue/cancer-specific promoter with strict specificity using a single-adenoviral vector. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 39:e7. [PMID: 21051352 PMCID: PMC3025582 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue-/cancer-specific promoters for use in adenovirus vectors (AdVs) are valuable for elucidating specific gene functions and for use in gene therapy. However, low activity, non-specific expression and size limitations in the vector are always problems. Here, we developed a 'double-unit' AdV containing the Cre gene under the control of an α-fetoprotein promoter near the right end of its genome and bearing a compact 'excisional-expression' unit consisting of a target cDNA 'upstream' of a potent promoter between two loxPs near the left end of its genome. When Cre was expressed, the expression unit was excised as a circular molecule and strongly expressed. Undesired leak expression of Cre during virus preparation was completely suppressed by a dominant-negative Cre and a short-hairpin RNA against Cre. Using this novel construct, a very strict specificity was maintained while achieving a 40- to 90-fold higher expression level, compared with that attainable using a direct specific promoter. Therefore, the 'double-unit' AdV enabled us to produce a tissue-/cancer-specific promoter in an AdV with a high expression level and strict specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Kanegae
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Imamura Y, Ishikawa S, Sato N, Karashima R, Hirashima K, Hiyoshi Y, Nagai Y, Koga Y, Hayashi N, Watanabe M, Yamada G, Baba H. Adenoviral oncolytic suicide gene therapy for a peritoneal dissemination model of gastric cancer in mice. Ann Surg Oncol 2009; 17:643-52. [PMID: 20012217 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-009-0852-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2009] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer is often refractory to systemic therapies. Although adenoviral gene therapy has been reported to be a potentially useful therapeutic modality, the adenovirus itself has a dose-limiting toxicity. A novel system was constructed using adenoviral oncolytic suicide gene therapy targeting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and its therapeutic effect and the possibility to reduce the total viral dose while still preserving the antitumor effect were assessed. METHODS Three types of adenoviruses were prepared for this novel system: (A) Ad/CEA-Cre, (B) Ad/lox-CD::UPRT for a Cre/loxP system, and (C) Ad/CEA-E1 for conditionally replicating adenovirus. The antitumor effect of the oncolytic suicide gene therapy (A + B + C) was then evaluated in vitro. Mice bearing peritoneal dissemination of human gastric cancer were treated with either this system (A + B + C) or with a tenfold viral dose of suicide gene therapy (A + B). The adverse effects in terms of hepatotoxicity were then evaluated between the two groups. RESULTS The current system (A + B + C) demonstrated significantly better cytotoxic effect for CEA-producing cell lines than did suicide gene therapy (A + B) at the same viral dose in vitro. The effect of oncolytic suicide gene therapy was almost equal to that of the tenfold viral dose of suicide gene therapy in vivo. The hepatotoxicity of the two treated groups was also found to be equivalent. CONCLUSION It was possible to reduce the total adenoviral dose of oncolytic suicide gene therapy while still preserving the antitumor effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto-City, Kumamoto, Japan
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Modular Cre/lox system and genetic therapeutics for colorectal cancer. J Biomed Biotechnol 2009; 2009:358230. [PMID: 19809520 PMCID: PMC2754659 DOI: 10.1155/2009/358230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2009] [Revised: 06/09/2009] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cre/lox system is a powerful tool for targeting therapeutic effectors in a wide variety of human disorders. I review a Cre/lox Wnt-targeted system that has shown promise against Wnt-positive colorectal cancer cell lines. In addition to Wnt-specific targeting of cell death inducers, the modular nature of this gene therapy model system can be exploited by designing positive and negative feedback loops to either amplify or inhibit Wnt activity for experimental or therapeutic benefit. I discuss the structural components and performance parameters of the system, the implication of these findings with respect to cancer stem cells, as well as the general applicability of this system to any disorder characterized by differential gene expression. I also consider the issue of gene delivery as well as in vivo testing requirements necessary for the further characterization and development of this system.
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Giuriato S, Rabin K, Fan AC, Shachaf CM, Felsher DW. Conditional animal models: a strategy to define when oncogenes will be effective targets to treat cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2004; 14:3-11. [PMID: 14757531 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2003.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The ability to model cancer in the mouse has provided a robust methodology to dissect the molecular etiology of cancer. These models serve as potentially powerful platforms to preclinically evaluate novel therapeutics. In particular, the recent development of strategies to conditionally induce the or knockout the function of genes in a tissue specific manner has enabled investigators to engineer mice to demonstrate that the targeted inactivation of specific oncogenes can be effective in inducing sustained regression of tumors. Thus, these animal models will be useful to define the specific genes that will be therapeutically useful to target for the treatment of particular human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Giuriato
- Division of Oncology, Stanford University, CCSR 1105, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5151, USA
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Sundaresan G, Paulmurugan R, Berger F, Stiles B, Nagayama Y, Wu H, Gambhir SS. MicroPET imaging of Cre-loxP-mediated conditional activation of a herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase reporter gene. Gene Ther 2004; 11:609-18. [PMID: 14724687 PMCID: PMC4141556 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Site-specific recombination tools such as the Cre-loxP system are used to create animal models where conditional gene deletion/activation studies are required. In the current proof of principle study, we have demonstrated that a PET reporter gene (PRG), the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk), can be made to remain silent and can be activated by Cre-loxP-mediated recombination in cell culture and in living mice. An adenovirus carrying a silent HSV1-tk was tail-vein injected (1 x 10(9) PFU) in six transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase in their liver (Cre+) and in four control mice (Cre-). The liver-specific expression of the PRG in Cre+ mice was detected in the microPET following injection of the reporter probe, 9-[4-fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine ([(18)F]-FHBG). The [(18)F]-FHBG accumulation in the liver in terms of percent-injected dose per gram of tissue was 7.72+/-1.13 for the Cre+ mice and 0.10+/-0.02 for the Cre- mice (P<0.05) 48 h after adenoviral injection. These results were further validated by quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting and by in vitro assays for herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase enzyme activity. Thus by using the Cre-loxP system it is possible to modulate a PRG and noninvasively monitor the extent of Cre-loxP-mediated gene activation by imaging in a microPET scanner.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Sundaresan
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - R Paulmurugan
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - F Berger
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - B Stiles
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Y Nagayama
- Department of Pharmacology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - H Wu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - SS Gambhir
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Stanford, CA, USA
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Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Sartorelli AC. Pharmacological and genetic modulation of Wnt-targeted Cre-Lox-mediated gene expression in colorectal cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2004; 32:2660-74. [PMID: 15141037 PMCID: PMC419474 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkh596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt-targeted gene therapy has been proposed as a treatment for human colorectal cancer (CRC). The Cre-Lox system consists of methodology for enhancing targeted expression from tissue-specific or cancer-specific promoters. We analyzed the efficiency of Wnt-specific promoters as drivers of the Cre-mediated activity of a luciferase reporter gene or cell death effector gene in CRC cell lines in the presence and absence of two modulators of Wnt activity, sodium butyrate and lithium chloride. Butyrate is present in the colonic lumen after digestion of fiber-rich foods, whereas the colonic lumen is readily accessible to lithium chloride. In both SW620 and HCT-116 CRC cells, a physiologically relevant concentration of butyrate upregulated reporter and effector activity and altered the Wnt-specific expression pattern. Lithium chloride markedly enhanced Cre-Lox-mediated Wnt-specific reporter expression only in APC wild-type CRC cells. Possibilities for genetic modulation of the proposed CRC therapy included Wnt-specific expression of a floxed Lef1-VP16 fusion that enhanced Wnt-specific cell death and of a floxed dominant-negative Tcf4 that specifically downregulated endogenous Wnt activity. These findings demonstrated that the Cre-Lox system, in combination with pharmacological and genetic modulators, represents effective methodology for enhancing Wnt-targeted gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bordonaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Developmental Therapeutics Section, Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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Abstract
Cancer gene therapy has been one of the most exciting areas of therapeutic research in the past decade. In this review, we discuss strategies to restrict transcription of transgenes to tumour cells. A range of promoters which are tissue-specific, tumour-specific, or inducible by exogenous agents are presented. Transcriptional targeting should prevent normal tissue toxicities associated with other cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. In addition, the specificity of these strategies should provide improved targeting of metastatic tumours following systemic gene delivery. Rapid progress in the ability to specifically control transgenes will allow systemic gene delivery for cancer therapy to become a real possibility in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Robson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - David G. Hirst
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK
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Ueda K, Iwahashi M, Nakamori M, Nakamura M, Matsuura I, Ojima T, Yamaue H. Improvement of carcinoembryonic antigen-specific prodrug gene therapy for experimental colon cancer. Surgery 2003; 133:309-17. [PMID: 12660644 DOI: 10.1067/msy.2003.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improvement of tumor-specific gene expression is very important for achieving successful effects in prodrug gene therapy for advanced cancer with metastatic lesions. We used the Cre/loxP system for enhancing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-specific prodrug gene therapy of cytosine (CD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) for the treatment of a colon cancer model accompanied with liver metastases. METHODS Orthotopic colon cancer models were developed. Seven days later, adenovirus vector (3 x 10(9) pfu)was injected into the abdominal cavity, and 5-FC was administered for the next 10 days. RESULTS In these models, the double administration of AxCEANCre expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the CEA promoter, and AxCALNLCD expressing the CD gene under the control of the CAG promoter by the Cre-mediated switching system, completely inhibited liver metastases, and significantly reduced primary tumor volume compared to the administration of Mock or AxCEACD (P <.001). The survival periods of the mice treated with AxCEANCre and AxCALNLCD were longer than mice treated with Mock or AxCEACD, and longer than the mice treated with AxCACD (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS The enhanced CEA-specific prodrug gene therapy using the Cre/loxP system was useful for the treatment of advanced colon cancer with liver metastases, implicating clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Ueda
- Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan
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