Abstract
AIM:To evaluate the potential of RA-538 gene therapy for gastric carcinoma.METHODS:Human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901 treated with Ad-RA538 or Ad-LacZ were analysed by X-gal stain, MTT, DNA ladder, Tunel, flow cytometric analysis, PCR, and Western Blot in vitro. The tumorigenicity and experimental therapy in nude mice model were assessed in vivo.RESULTS:Ad-LacZ could efficiently transfer the LacZ gene into SGC7901 cells. X-gal-positive cells at MOI 25, 50, 100, and 200 were 90%, 100%, 100%, and 100% respectively. Ad-RA538 could strongly inhibit cell growth and induced apoptosis in SGC7901 cells.The proliferation of the Ad-RA538-infected SGC7901 cells was reduced by 76.3%.The mechanism of killing of gastric carcinoma cells by Ad-RA538 was found to be apoptosis by DNA ladder,Tunel and flow cytometric analysis.The tumorigenicity in nude mice using Ad-RA538 showed that all three mice failed to form tumor from 7 to 30 days compared with Ad-LacZ and parent SGC7901 cells. Experimental therapy on the nude mice model bearing subcutaneous tumor of SGC7901 cells showed that intratumor instillation of Ad-RA538 inhibited the growth of the tumors. Ad-RA538-treated tumors were inhibited by 60.66%, compared with that of the tumor injected with Ad-LacZ and mock.CONCLUSION: The expression of Ad RA538 can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cell in vitro and in vivo. Ad RA538 can be used potentially in gene therapy for gastric carcinoma.