[Transfer of thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus mediated by retrovirus vector into ovarian cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE

To search for the application of the retrovirus vector (RV)/herpes simplex virus type I thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk)/ganciclovior (GCV) gene therapeutic system in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Two kinds of vector-producing cells (VPC) which can produce retrovirus vectors constructed to contain neoR gene and two kinds of HSV-tk genes (marked as "HSV-tka" and "HSV-tkc) were employed to transfer those genes into ovarian cancer AO, 3AO cell lines. And the response of those anti-G418 clones to GCV therapy was observed.

RESULTS

In the transduction to AO cells, the vector titer of the VPC/HSV-tkc culture was 9.3 x 100,000 cfu/ml, and there were 263 anti-G418 clones in the 25 cm2 cell culture flask in which 1:1,000 diluted VPC/HSV-tkc culture was added, and 235 clones in a similar flask in which 1:10 diluted VPC/HSV-tka culture was added. Further more, all of the HSV-tkc positive clones exposed to 10 micrograms/ml GCV could be eliminated, and 96% of those clones died in 5 days after GCV was used.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of the RV/HSV-tk/GCV system is very promising in the gene therapy of ovarian cancer.