Adenovirus-Mediated Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase Gene Transfer Driver by KDR Promoter in Treatment of Experimental Human HepatocelLular Carcinoma in Nude Mice

摘要

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene transfer under the driving of KDR promoter (AdKDR-tk) in combination of ganciclovir (GCV) against human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice. Methods: HepG2 cell line was implanted subcutaneously into 32 nude mice, which were subsequently divided into 4 groups (n=8 each group): Ganciclovir group (Ⅰ), Ad group (Ⅱ), AdCMV-tk/GCV group (under the driving of CMV promoter) (Ⅲ) and AdKDR-tk/GCV group (Ⅳ). Then intratumoral injection of recombinant adenovirus or Ad was performed in all nude mice, and repeated 24 h later. For the following 10 d GCV was given at a dose of 100 mg/(kg • d), ip. All the treated animals were killed to evaluate the tumor weight and the histopathological changes and the microvessel density of tumors after the treatment was determined. Results: Compared with group Ⅰ, the tumor inhibitory rate was 12.3% in group Ⅲ and 24.5% in group Ⅳ; the inhibition rates were significantly different between group Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P< 0.05). The mean MVDs in group Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were 37.4±8.6, 30.6±7.8, 27.6±7.1, and 10.7±4.1 (microvessels/mm~2), respectively. Significant differences were found between group Ⅲ and Ⅱ (P< 0.05), Ⅳ and Ⅱ (P < 0.01), and Ⅳ and Ⅲ (P< 0.01). Conclusion: Intratumoral injection of AdKDR-tk results in marked inhibition of HCC growth through inhibition angiogenesis in nude mice. It may be a new treatment approach for human HCC.