Bone marrow-derived, endothelial progenitor-like cells as angiogenesis-selective gene-targeting vectors. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Human and mouse proliferation-competent, bone marrow or peripheral circulation derived endothelial progenitor-like cells (EPCs) were isolated, expanded and genetically engineered ex vivo to express the beta galactosidase (beta-gal), green fluorescence protein or thymidine kinase (TK) genes using retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Genetically labeled EPCs were transplanted into sublethally irradiated tumor-bearing mice and were found to migrate to and incorporate into the angiogenic vasculature of growing tumors while maintaining transgene expression. Ganciclovir treatment resulted in significant tumor necrosis in animals previously administered TK-expressing EPCs with no systemic toxicity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using genetically modified EPCs as angiogenesis-selective gene-targeting vectors and the potential of this approach to mediate non-toxic and systemic antitumor responses.

publication date

  • April 1, 2003

Research

keywords

  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Endothelium, Vascular
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Neoplasms

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0038742919

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/sj.gt.3301883

PubMed ID

  • 12692593

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 10

issue

  • 8