Simultaneous evaluation of dual gene transfer to adherent cells by gamma-ray imaging

A gamma camera imaging method was developed to detect dual gene transfer to adherent cells growing as monolayers in cell culture plates. Human cancer cells were infected with replication-incompetent adenoviral vectors encodin g the human type 2 somatostatin receptor (Ad-hSSTr2) and/or herpes virus th ymidine kinase (Ad-TK). The hSSTr2 and TK reporter proteins were detected b y imaging internally bound Tc-99m-P2045 peptide (Diatide, Inc.) and radioio dinated 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta -D-arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (FIAU), re spectively. Following gene transfer, expression of hSSTr2 and TK were accur ately imaged in vitro. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.