M. Kuroki et al., Specific targeting strategies of cancer gene therapy using a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with a high affinity for CEA, ANTICANC R, 20(6A), 2000, pp. 4067-4071
Two specific targeting strategies of cancer gene therapy using carcinoembry
onic antigen (CEA) as a target are briefly reviewed here. One method is the
specific targeting of suicide genes to CEA-expressing tumor cells by a ret
rovector displaying anti-CEA single-chain variable fragment (scFv). We reco
nstructed a recombinant retroviral vector that displays both anti-CEA scFv-
expressing chimeric and normal envelope proteins and carries the inducible
nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene.;This recombinant retrovirus specifically
bound, infected and killed only CEA-expressing tumor cells, indicating the
cell specific retroviral vector delivery of the iNOS gene. Another novel m
ethod is the specific redirecting of cytotoxic T-cells to CEA-expressing tu
mor cells through chimeric receptors. We also reconstructed a chimeric rece
ptor gene which encoded an anti-CEA scFv antibody and the zeta -chain of hu
man TCR/CD3 complex and expressed it on T-cell surface. When incubated with
CEA-expressing tumor cells in vitro, the transduced T-cells tended to make
a rosette-like formation around the tumor cells, suggesting the cell speci
fic targeting of T-cells.