Allogeneic class I major histocompatibility complex gene transfer in murine neuroblastoma in vivo

In vivo intratumoral gene transfer of allogeneic class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes augments the immune response against weak tumor antigens. In this study, mice inoculated with the allogeneic MHC mollecule (H-2K(b)), had transduced-murine neuroblastoma C1300S3 cells showed prolonged survival relative to non-transduced or neo transduced tumors (p<0.005). Interestingly, direct in vivo gene transfer of H-2K(b) plasmid DNA complexed with HVJ-liposomes into S3 tumors was highly efficient resulting in transduction of 8% of the interstitial cells within the tumor but rarely within tumor cells, Regression of established tumors and prolonged survival occurred in 50% of mice injected with H-2K(b) in contrast to no tumor I egression in mice receiving control plasmid (p<0.005). This Study concludes that interstitial cells could serve as an important target of intratumoral gene transfer; and further that HVJ-liposome complexes could be a vehicle for in vivo gene transfer.