Adenovirus expressing p27kip1 suppresses growth of established esophageal carcinoma xenografts

AIM: To investigate the growth suppression of ade-novirus expressing p27kip1 on established esophageal tumors in nude mice. METHODS: Esophageal carcinoma xenografts in nude mice were established by tumor tissue mass transplantation. The successfully constructed reco-mbinant adenoviral vectors carrying p27kip1 gene (Ad-p27kip1) were directly injected into the esophageal tumors in nude mice. Compared to control group, the growth curve of tumor was drawn and the growth inhibition rate of tumor was calculated. The histology of tumors was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The expression of p27kip1 and survivin was detected in tumors by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The growth of tumors in gene therapy group with Ad-p27kip1 was obviously suppressed compared to control group (0.42±0.08 g vs 1.17±0.30 g, t=6.39, P<0.01), the inhibition rate of tumor growth reached 64.1%. Pathological detection showed that the tumors in nude mice were poorly differentiated esophageal squamous carcinoma. In addition, the expression of p27kip1 was increased, while the expression of survivin was decreased in tumors after being transfected with Ad-p27kip1. CONCLUSION: p27kip1 gene therapy mediated by adenovirus vector has a significant inhibitory effect on esophageal carcinoma in vivo. Up-regulated p27kip1 expression and down-regulated survivin expression may be its important mechanisms.