Background: Our research has focused on developing improved delivery vector
s for treating cancer by gene therapy using the tumor suppressor p53 gene.
Materials and Methods: Recombinant viral and non-viral vectors were used to
deliver the p53 gene into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells either
in culture or as a subcutaneous tumor. Transduction of tumor cells was meas
ured by beta-gal expression while tumor cell proliferation was used to meas
ure the effect of p53. Results: High level transduction was obtained in vit
ro and in vivo with a recombinant adenoviral vector, resulting in tumor cel
l growth inhibition in both models. A targeted, non-viral gene delivery vec
tor based on the use of an EGF/DNA polyplex also resulted in efficient (as
high as 66% transduction) and specific gene delivery in vitro when replicat
ion defective adenovirus was used as an endosome release agent. Conclusion:
These vectors now provide improved methods to deliver therapeutic genes fo
r cancer treatment by gene therapy.