Improving Retroviral Vectors for Gene Therapy of Prostate Cancer
Abstract
This project aims to increase the transduction efficiency and target cell-specificity of retroviral vectors, thereby improving gene transfer to prostate cancer cells. We have developed a novel replication-competent retroviral (RCR) vector system for gene transfer to solid tumors which is highly efficient, as each tumor cell which is successfully transduced becomes itself a virus-producing cell and initiates further infection events even after the initial injection. Through this project, we have tested a number of strategies for targeting these replicating vectors specifically and exclusively to tumor cells in order to limit and control the replicative process and minimize the risk to normal cells. We have engineered the prostate-specific probasin promoter into the retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR), and used this construct to establish producer cell lines derived from prostate cancer cells that express androgen receptors. We have optimized the design of the probasin/LTR hybrid promoter construct, and we have demonstrated the prostate-specificity of probasin-targeted RCR vector - replication and suicide gene transfer in culture and in vivo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA419147
Entities
People
- Noriyuki Kasahara
Organizations
- University of Southern California