Breast Cancer Gene Therapy: Development of Novel Non-Invasive Magnetic Resonance Assay to Optimize Efficacy
Abstract
Gene therapy holds great promise for treatment of breast cancer. In particular; clinical trials are underway to apply therapeutic genes related to pro-drug activation or to modulate the activity of oncogenes by blocking promoter sites. However, there are major problems in terms of assessing the delivery to target tissue, assessing the uniformity (versus heterogeneity) of biodistribution and determining whether the genes are expressed. We propose to design, evaluate and apply a novel approach to gene activity detection- specifically, using fluorinated substrates of t3-galactosidase to reveal gene activity. Our prototype molecule PFONPG (para- fluoro- ortho- nitro- phenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside) is a direct analog of the traditional "yellow' biochemical indicator ONPG (ortho- nitro- phenyl beta- D-galactopyranoside). This shows useful MR characteristics, sensitivity to enzyme activity and ability to enter cells. We will synthesize analogs of this prototype to optimize MR and biological characteristics and explore the feasibility of tailoring the reporter to specific applications, e.g., exploiting beta-gal activity to deliver specific physiological reporter molecules such as pH and potentially specific cytotoxic agents. The agents will be rigorously tested in solution, applied to cultured breast cancer cells and ultimately used to examine beta-gal activity in vivo in transfected breast tumors in mice and rats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA437900
Entities
People
- Ralph P. Mason
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas