Cells producing recombinant retrovirus with thymidine kinase gene from Herpes simplex virus suitable for human cancer gene therapy

Therapeutic cells producing amphotropic retrovirus, which are able to trans duce in vivo thymidine kinase gene of Herpes simplex virus were prepared. S ingle-cell clone cells with high virus productivity (PA-317JH5cl13) were ob tained by cell cloning. The cells were found free of replication competent retrovirus, they were non-tumorigenic in xenogeneic host and highly sensiti ve to ganciclovir treatment in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic efficacy of PA-317JH5cl13 cells was tested in rat brain tumor model. Increase in sur vival in the group of treated versus untreated rats was observed. Therefore , these cells are suitable for application in human clinical trial.