¹Cancer Genetics and Gene Therapy, The State-key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, LN 25/2200, Xie-tu Road, Shanghai 200032, China

Correspondence: Prof. Jing De ZHU, Tel: 0086-21-64224285 Fax:0086-21-64224285 (fax) E-mail: zhujingde@yahoo.com

Received 28 January 2003; Revised 4 April 2003; Accepted 9 April 2003.

Abstract

The tumor selective over-expression of the human Hsp70 gene has been well documented in human tumors, linked to the poor prognosis, being refractory to chemo- and radio-therapies as well as the advanced stage of tumorous lesions in particular. However, both the nature and details of aberrations in the control of the Hsp70 expression in tumor remain enigmatic. By comparing various upstream segments of the Hsp70 gene for each's ability to drive the luciferase reporter genes in the context of the tumor cell lines varying in their p53 status and an immortal normal liver cell line, we demonstrated in a great detail the defects in the control mechanisms at the both initiation and elongation levels of transcription being instrumental to the tumor selective profile of its expression. Our data should not only offer new insights into our understanding of the tumor specific over-expression of the human Hsp70 gene, but also paved the way for the rational utilization of the tumor selective mechanism with the Hsp70 at the central stage for targeting the therapeutic gene expression to human tumors.