Treatment of endometrial carcinoma by recombinant adenovirus vector containing wild type PTEN cDNA : an in vivo study

Objective:To study the feasibility of treating endometrial carcinoma by adenovirus vector containing wild type PTEN gene(Ad-PTEN) . Methods:Twenty-four BALB/c mice with endometrial carcinoma were equally divided into 3 groups,with Ad-CMV transfected or untransfected mice as control group.The tumorigenic ability of implanted endometrial carcinoma was observed after ex vivo transfection with Ad-PTEN.LacZ was used as a reporter to determine the efficiency of adenovirus gene transfer.Fifteen BALB/c nude mice with endometrial carcinoma were equally divided into PBS control,Ad-CMV group and Ad-PTEN group.When the implanted tumors grew to 4-5 mm in diameter,5×10~8 pfu/100 μl Ad-PTEN,Ad-CMV or PBS were injected intratumorally once the other day for 3 times.The changes of tumor size and the presence of adverse effects were observed.Fifteen days after treatment all mice were sacrificed and tumors were excised for routine histological examination.(Results:)Ad-PTEN transfected endometrial carcinoma cell line RL 95-2 completely lost tumorigenic ability in BALB/c mice.The tumorigenic rates were 0,100% and 100% in Ad-PTEN,Ad-CMV and PBS control group,respectively.The in vivo efficiency of adenovirus mediated gene transfer into endometrial carcinoma was 80% 96 h after Ad-CMV-LacZ injection.The growth of tumor in Ad-PTEN group was obviously decreased and the tumors' volumes in Ad-PTEN group were obviously smaller than those in Ad-CMV and PBS group(P0.05).No obvious adverse effect was observed during Ad-PTEN treatment and no abnormal changes were found during pathological examination of hepatic tissue.Conclusion:PTEN gene therapy may provide a new nonsurgical treatment option for women with endometrial carcinoma with a promising clinical value.