OBJECTIVETo study the p53/p21 fusion gene as a potential fusion gene for the gene therapy of human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSp21 cDNA was obtained from normal human embryonic lung cells by RT-PCR, fusing with p53 gene. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA-p53/p21 was constructed by inserting the p53/p21 fusion gene into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 and subsequently transfected into human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (Tca8113) with lipofectamine. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to demonstrate the expression of p53/p21 fusion gene. Using clonal formation experiment and (3)H-TdR incorporation assay were used to evaluate the clonal formation and proliferation ability of Tca8113 cells.

RESULTSIt was observed that p53/p21 fusion gene could inhibit clonal formation and proliferation of human oral carcinoma. RT-PCR and Western blot demonstrated that it was the expression of exogenous p53/p21 fusion gene that led to the above results.

CONCLUSIONSTransfection of p53/p21 fusion gene to Tca8113 cells could inhibit the tumor cell proliferation and clone formation in vitro, and make itself a potential fusion gene for the gene therapy of human oral squamous cell carcinoma.