Systemic inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis by thrombospondin-2 using cell-based antiangiogenic gene therapy

Cancer Res. 2002 Apr 1;62(7):2004-12.

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that continuous administration improves the antitumoral efficacy of angiogenesis inhibitors, as compared with intermittent dosing, suggesting a potential role of gene therapy in antiangiogenic tumor therapy. We established a tissue-engineered implant system for the continuous in vivo production of thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2), a potent endogenous inhibitor of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Fibroblasts were retrovirally transduced to overexpress TSP-2 and were seeded onto biodegradable polymer scaffolds. After transplantation into the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, bioimplants maintained high levels of TSP-2 secretion over extended time periods, resulting in increased levels of circulating TSP-2. Bioimplant-generated TSP-2 potently inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis of human squamous cell carcinomas, malignant melanomas, and Lewis lung carcinomas that were implanted at a distant site. These results provide the first proof-of-principle for the feasibility and therapeutic efficiency of systemic, cell-based antiangiogenic gene therapy using biodegradable polymer grafts for the treatment of cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells / metabolism
  • 3T3 Cells / transplantation
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / blood supply*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma, Experimental / blood supply*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy*
  • Polymers
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Retroviridae / genetics
  • Thrombospondins / biosynthesis
  • Thrombospondins / genetics*
  • Thrombospondins / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Thrombospondins
  • thrombospondin 2