FHIT gene therapy prevents tumor development in Fhit-deficient mice

The tumor suppressor gene FHIT spans a common fragile site and is highly su sceptible to environmental carcinogens. FHIT inactivation and loss of expre ssion is found in a large fraction of premaligant and malignant lesions. In this study, we were able to inhibit tumor development by oral gene transfe r, using adenoviral or adenoassociated viral vectors expressing the human F HIT gene, in heterozygous Fhit(+/-) knockout mice, that are prone to tumor development after carcinogen exposure. We therefore suggest that FHIT gene therapy could be a novel clinical approach not only in treatment of early s tages of cancer, but also in prevention of human cancer.