The potential therapeutic benefit of introducing IFN-gamma and GM-CSF genes in combination with the HSVtk suicide gene into subcutaneously implanted CT26 tumor cells was compared with that from each treatment alone. Cells, unmodified or retrovirally transduced with HSVtk or IFN-gamma/GM-CSF genes, were inoculated subcutaneously into syngeneic BALB/c mice in various combinations. HSVtk gene, with intraperitoneal ganciclovir treatment, reduced tumor volume by 81% at locally inoculated tumor sites (p<0.01) and by 25% at distantly inoculated tumor sites (p=0.052). IFN-gamma/GM-CSF genes showed a 56% tumor volume reduction at local tumor sites (p<0.01) and 15% volume reduction at remote tumor sites, although this was not statistically significant. The combination of HSVtk (with GCV) and IFN-gamma/GM-CSF genes showed an 81% volume reduction at local tumor sites (p<0.01) and a 43% volume reduction at remote tumor sites (p<0.01). Thus, the combination of HSVtk and IFN-gamma/GM-CSF gene therapy produced greater therapeutic efficacy than either treatment alone.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Therapy/*methods ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factors, Recombinant/biosynthesis/*genetics/therapeutic use ; H-2 Antigens/metabolism ; Interferon-gamma, Recombinant/biosynthesis/*genetics/therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasms, Experimental/*therapy ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Simplexvirus/enzymology/genetics ; Thymidine Kinase/*genetics/therapeutic use ; Transduction, Genetic