SUCCESSFUL USE OF A PLANT GENE IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER IN-VIVO

A new strategy for cancer gene therapy has I,een using a plant gene wh ich encodes the enzyme, case, that hydrolyzes the cyanogenic glucoside substrate, linamarin, into glucose, acetone and cyanide. Retrovectors that carry linamarase as a potential killer-suicide marked sensitizat ion to the innocuous substrate, linamarin, followed by cell death. We show that the system can eradicate very large intracerebral gliomas. i n vivo helped by a cyanide bystander effect Animals showing a total re gression of the tumor by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), do not show other appreciable toxic effects.