Cancer Gene Therapy with a Hand-Held Gene Gun

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Using a hand-held gene gun which accelerates DNA-coated microparticles, we examined the effects of interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene transfection on several models of rat solid cancer. AH130 cells were injected into portal vein and ileocecal mesenterium lymph node of Donryu rats, as a liver and lymph node metastatic model, respectively. Yoshida sarcoma cells were injected into the axillar skin lesion. Total amounts of 6 μg of IL-12 DNA coated gold particles were transferred into the liver with metastatic tumors by pressurized helium gas of 300 psi (1 psi=6,890Pa) on day 14 and 16 after the tumor inoculation. Four mg of IL-12 DNA was given into the lymph node metastatic tumor on day 7 and 9 after tumor cell injection skin tumor was bombarded by IL-12 with TNF- α. The corresponding amounts of β -galactosidase were given by the identical route as a control for each group. Compared with the control group, IL-12 gene therapy was statistically effective for the inhibition of tumor growth and for survival rates in the liver metastatic model. A few beneficial effect of IL-12 transduction were observed in the lymph node metastatic model. Skin tumor growth was significantly suppressed by combination of IL-12 with TNF- α. From the standpoint of surgery or surgeons, this method has potential as a new strategy for cancer, especially as an intraoperative gene therapy.