OBJECTIVETo study the effect of adenovirus (Ad)-mediated fusion gene system driven by KDR promoter on the proliferation of human stomach adneocarcinoma SCG7901.

METHODSThe KDR-expressing SCG7901 cells and HepG2 cells that did not express KDR were both transfected with AdEasy-KDR-CDglyTK followed by treatment with the prodrugs 5-FC and/or GCV at different concentrations. The killing effects of the transfection on the cells were evaluated.

RESULTSThe expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was observed in 95% of the infected SCG7901 and HepG2 cells with the multiple of infection (MOI) of the Ads of 100. Transfection of SCG7901 and HepG2 cells did not produce significant changes in the cell growth, and the infected cells exhibited different sensitivities to the two prodrug: SCG7901 cells infected with rAd were highly sensitive to the prodrugs, but the infected HepG2 cells were not (P<0.01). The killing effect of CDglyTK fusion gene on the target cells was much stronger than that of either the single suicide gene (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCDglyTK fusion gene system driven by KDR promoter selectively kills the KDR-CDglyTK SCG7901 cells and inhibits their proliferation.