Abstract

We evaluated the antitumor effects of ionizing radiation and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene therapy in human malignant glioma (D54) xenografts. An adenoviral vector (Ad5) containing DNA sequences of the Egr-1 promoter was linked to a cDNA encoding the TNF-α gene (Ad.Egr-TNF). Athymic nude mice bearing D54 xenografts received intratumoral injections of Ad.Egr-TNF or the null vector (Ad.null), with and without fractionated radiation, 5 gray (Gy) per day for 6 days, a total dose of 30 Gy. Administration of Ad.Egr-TNF and 30 Gy resulted in complete tumor regression in 71% of xenografts compared with xenografts treated with radiation alone (7.4%, P = 0.006), Ad.Egr-TNF alone (0%, P = 0.012) or Ad.null with 30 Gy (0%, P = 0.002). Combined treatment with Ad.Egr-TNF and 30 Gy significantly reduced mean fractional tumor volumes compared with radiation alone (P = 0.002), Ad.Egr-TNF alone (P = 0.002) and Ad.null plus 30 Gy (P = 0.018). Histopathologic analyses of glioma xenografts treated with Ad.Egr-TNF and radiation revealed tumor vessel thrombosis by day 4 and necrosis by day 7. Thrombosis was not observed in tumors treated with Ad.Egr-TNF alone and was significantly reduced in all other treatment groups. These studies suggest that in the D54 glioma xenograft model, the antitumor effects of combining radiation and Ad.Egr-TNF are mediated, in part, by the destruction of the tumor microvasculature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)293-300
Number of pages8
JournalGene therapy
Volume5
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Keywords

  • Gene therapy
  • Malignant glioma
  • Radiation
  • Recombinant adenovirus
  • Tumoe necrosis factor-α

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