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Intranasal interleukin‐12 gene therapy enhanced the activity of ifosfamide against osteosarcoma lung metastases
Author(s) -
Duan Xiaoping,
Jia ShuFang,
Koshkidezhda,
Kleinerman Eugenie S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.21744
Subject(s) - medicine , fas ligand , osteosarcoma , in vivo , genetic enhancement , cancer research , interleukin , ifosfamide , lung cancer , immunohistochemistry , pharmacology , immunology , chemotherapy , cytokine , pathology , cisplatin , apoptosis , biology , programmed cell death , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , biochemistry
BACKGROUND Cyclophosphamide (CTX) and ifosfamide (IFX) are alkylating agents used to treat osteosarcoma (OS). It was previously demonstrated that the sensitivity of OS cells to 4‐hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4‐HC, the active metabolite of CTX) is augmented by interleukin (IL)‐12 in vitro through a mechanism involving the Fas/FasL pathway. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether this synergistic effect is operational in vivo. METHODS Mice were injected intravenously with human LM7 osteosarcoma cells. Treatment was initiated with IFX (2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) with or without intranasal polyethylenimine (PEI) :IL‐12 gene therapy given twice weekly for 6 weeks. RESULTS Expression of IL‐12 protein in the lung was demonstrated in all mice receiving intranasal PEI :IL‐12 but not in control mice or those treated with IFX alone. Increased expression of FasL was detected in lungs of all mice receiving IFX. Both IFX and PEI :IL‐12 alone significantly inhibited lung metastasis when compared with control groups ( P < 0.05). However, the most significant tumor effect was observed in mice receiving IFX+PEI :IL‐12 ( P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining for CD31 and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the number of proliferating cells as quantified by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining were also most significantly decreased in mice receiving combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that combining IFX and IL‐12 may have therapeutic potential and that this increased efficacy may be mediated through a mechanism involving the Fas/FasL pathway. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society