Adenovirus-mediated delivery of human IFNγ gene inhibits prostate cancer growth

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is regarded as a potent antitumor agent, but therapy with IFN-gamma is hampered by its short half-life and significant side effects. We developed a replication defective adenovirus carrying the human IFN-gamma gene and evaluated the effects of adenovirus-mediated IFN-gamma (Ad-IFN-gamma) gene transfer on human prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and on xenografts in vivo. Our results showed infection of prostate cancer cells with Ad-IFN-gamma led to production of an active cytokine and resulted in an antiproliferative effect on the prostate cancer cells. Intraturnoral injection of Ad-IFN-gamma significantly inhibited the growth of DU-145 cell xenografts in vivo, while no significant toxicity effect was observed. RT-PCR analysis indicated transgene expression mainly enriched in tumors in vivo, and slightly distributed in livers. These findings suggest adenovirus-mediated IFN-gamma gene transfer is a promising approach in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.