Tumoricide therapy with 'spectator effect'

摘要

A method for treating an tumor involves the initial identification of the tumor as one displaying a "bystander effect," whereby in vivo transfer of a gene conferring sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agent affects both transformed and non-transformed tumor cells. Into a tumor thus characterized is introduced in situ a retroviral vector containing the sensitizing gene. The retroviral vector, which may replication-defective or replication-competent, can be introduced directly (if it is replication-competent) or can be provided by means of a packaging cell line. Treatment of the patient with the chemotherapeutic agent thereafter effects tumor regression when as few as 10% of tumor cells are transformed, while normal tissue is not damaged. The anti-tumor impact of the treatment can be increased when the transducing vector also encodes an immune response-enhance substance such as IL-2 or another cytokine.