OBJECTIVEEfficacy of HSV-tk/GCV system antitumor effects was assessed on human laryngeal cancer cell line Hep-2 in vitro. To assess the HSV-tk/CGV system whether has an antitumour effect on human laryngeal squamous cell cancer Hep-2 in vitro. The mechanisms of cytotoxity were also assessed.

METHODSHep-2 cells were transfected with HSV-tk gene by lipofection. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the HSV-tk gene expression. MTT was utilized to test for the cytotoxicity of this system. The cell-circle arrest and apoptosis were analyzed by flowcytometry assay.

RESULTSHSV-tk gene transfected cells demonstrated obvious cytoreductivity followed by ganciclovir (GCV) administration and this cytoreductivity showed partial GCV dose-independent. HSV-tk gene transfected cells demonstrated obvious s-phase arrest, no apoptosis and necrosis occurred.

CONCLUSIONSThe HSV-tk/GCV system can inhabit the growth of Hep-2 cells effectively. S-phase arrest perhaps is the main reason that leads to the cell inhibition in our study. HSV-tk/GCV system has potential antitumor effects for the future clinical practice.