Long-term efficiency of mesenchymal stromal cell-mediated CD-MSC/5FC therapy in human melanoma xenograft model

Gene Ther. 2014 Oct;21(10):874-87. doi: 10.1038/gt.2014.66. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) can be exploited as cellular delivery vehicles for the enzymes converting non-toxic prodrugs to toxic substances. Because of their inherent chemoresistance, they exert potent bystander and antitumor effect. Here we show that the human adipose tissue-derived MSC expressing fusion yeast cytosine deaminase::uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (CD-MSC) in combination with 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) mediated a long-term tumor-free survival in the 83.3% of tumor-bearing animals. CD-MSC/5FC treatment induced cytotoxicity against model human melanoma cells EGFP-A375. Only 4% of the therapeutic CD-MSC cells eliminated >98.5% of the tumor cells in vitro. Long-term tumor-free survival was confirmed in 15 out of the 18 animals. However, repeatedly used CD-MSC/5FC therapeutic regimen generated more aggressive and metastatic variant of the melanoma cells EGFP-A375/Rel3. These cells derived from the refractory xenotransplants exhibited increased resistance to the CD-MSC/5FC treatment, altered cell adhesion, migration, tumorigenic and metastatic properties. However, long-term curative effect was achieved by the augmentation of the CD-MSC/5FC regimen along with the inhibition of c-Met/hepatocyte growth factor signaling axis in this aggressive melanoma derivative. In summary, the CD-MSC/5FC regimen can be regarded as a very effective antitumor approach to achieve long-term tumor-free survival as demonstrated on a mouse model of aggressive human melanoma xenografts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / cytology
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Cytosine Deaminase / genetics
  • Cytosine Deaminase / metabolism*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Flucytosine / pharmacology*
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma, Experimental / mortality
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Pentosyltransferases / genetics
  • Pentosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Flucytosine
  • Pentosyltransferases
  • uracil phosphoribosyltransferase
  • Cytosine Deaminase