RETROVIRUS-MEDIATED GENE-THERAPY FOR HUMAN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA TRANSPLANTED IN ATHYMIC MICE

Gene therapy using a retrovirus vector carrying herpes simplex virus t hymidine kinase gene under the control of the 0.3-kb human cr-fetoprot ein (AFP) gene promoter (LNAF0.3TK virus) in combination with ganciclo vir (GCV) treatment was performed in athymic mice harboring AFP-produc ing HuH-7 human hepatoma cells. GCV treatment resulted in pronounced g rowth inhibition of the virus-infected HuH-7 xenograft in mice, but di d not affect growth of the parental xenograft. These results indicate that the AFP gene promoter sequence allows enough therapeutic gene exp ression to induce the GCV-mediated cytotoxicity in vivo in AFP-produci ng human hepatoma cells.