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Bicistronic transfer of CDKN2A and p53 culminates in collaborative killing of human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Gene Therapy volume 27, pages 51–61 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Cancer therapies that target a single protein or pathway may be limited by their specificity, thus missing key players that control cellular proliferation and contributing to the failure of the treatment. We propose that approaches to cancer therapy that hit multiple targets would limit the chances of escape. To this end, we have developed a bicistronic adenoviral vector encoding both the CDKN2A and p53 tumor suppressor genes. The bicistronic vector, AdCDKN2A-I-p53, supports the translation of both gene products from a single transcript, assuring that all transduced cells will express both proteins. We show that combined, but not single, gene transfer results in markedly reduced proliferation and increased cell death correlated with reduced levels of phosphorylated pRB, induction of CDKN1A and caspase 3 activity, yet avoiding the induction of senescence. Using isogenic cell lines, we show that these effects were not impeded by the presence of mutant p53. In a mouse model of in situ gene therapy, a single intratumoral treatment with the bicistronic vector conferred markedly inhibited tumor progression while the treatment with either CDKN2A or p53 alone only partially controlled tumor growth. Histologic analysis revealed widespread transduction, yet reduced proliferation and increased cell death was associated only with the simultaneous transfer of CDKN2A and p53. We propose that restoration of two of the most frequently altered genes in human cancer, mediated by AdCDKN2A-I-p53, is beneficial since multiple targets are reached, thus increasing the efficacy of the treatment.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Patrícia Léo and Juliana C. Gregório for the initial vector constructions. Financial support from the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP): grant 98/15120-3 (ECS), grant 2015/26580-9 (BES), and fellowships 14/12322-5 (JGX), 11/21256-8 (RET).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Juliana G. Xande, Ana P. Dias, Bárbara Brito, Robledo A. Ferreira & Eugenia Costanzi-Strauss

  2. Center for Translational Investigation in Oncology/LIM24, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rodrigo E. Tamura & Bryan E. Strauss

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema, SP, Brazil

    Rodrigo E. Tamura

  4. Central Facility for Research Support, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario C. Cruz

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  1. Juliana G. Xande
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Correspondence to Eugenia Costanzi-Strauss.

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Xande, J.G., Dias, A.P., Tamura, R.E. et al. Bicistronic transfer of CDKN2A and p53 culminates in collaborative killing of human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Gene Ther 27, 51–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-019-0096-1

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