Prodrug activation enzymes in cancer gene therapy

Anticancer effect of cation lipofectin-mediated CD/5-FC suicide gene system on liver, biliary duct and pancreas carcinoma cells in vitro

AIM: To investigate the anticancer effect of the CD/5-FC suicide gene system on carcinoma cells of liver (Bel7402), bililary duct (QBC) and pancreas (Bxpc3), and to explore the possible anticancer mechanism.

METHODS: The growth curve and multiplication time of Bel-7402 QBC and Bxpc-3 were monitored by MTT; the transfection efficiency of the three kinds of carcinoma cells were detected by FACS after instant transfection. The anticancer efficiency of cation lipofectin-mediated CD/5-FC suicide gene system were monitored by MTT in vitro. Then, we analyzed the relation among multiplication time, transfection efficiency and anticancer effect; the apoptosis of CD/5-FC on the three cell lines were analyzed by FAM, and the apoptosis cells were stained by Hochest33342.

RESULTS: The multiplication time of Bel-7402, QBC and Bxpc-3 was 34.48, 64.94 and 26.29 h respectively, and difference between QBC and BEL-7402, BXPC-3 was significant (P < 0.05); the transfection efficiency of the three cell line were 26.99%, 2.25% and 30.36%, and the difference between QBC, and BEL-7402 and BXPC-3 was significant (P < 0.05); the anticancer efficiency was 83.24%, 16.97% and 92.32%, respectively. The apoptosis rates of the three kinds of carcinoma cells induced by CD/5-FC suicide gene system were 27.8%, 5.49% and 36.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Carcinoma cells with shorter growth cycle and less multiplication time have higher instant transfection efficiency, and are more responsive to CD/5-FC suicide gene therapy. This suicide gene therapy may be a promising method for later malignant tumor in clinic.