Anti-EGFR immunonanoparticles containing IL12 and salmosin genes for targeted cancer gene therapy

Int J Oncol. 2016 Sep;49(3):1130-8. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3619. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Abstract

Tumor-directed gene delivery is of major interest in the field of cancer gene therapy. Varied functionalizations of non-viral vectors have been suggested to enhance tumor targetability. In the present study, we prepared two different types of anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) immunonanoparticles containing pDNA, neutrally charged liposomes and cationic lipoplexes, for tumor-directed transfection of cancer therapeutic genes. Even though both anti-EGFR immunonanoparticles had a high binding affinity to the EGFR-positive cancer cells, the anti-EGFR immunolipoplex formulation exhibited approximately 100-fold higher transfection to the target cells than anti-EGFR immunoliposomes. The lipoplex formulation also showed a higher transfection to SK-OV-3 tumor xenografts in mice. Thus, IL12 and/or salmosin genes were loaded in the anti-EGFR immunolipoplexes and intravenously administered to mice carrying SK-OV-3 tumors. Co-transfection of IL12 and salmosin genes using anti-EGFR immunolipoplexes significantly reduced tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis. Furthermore, combinatorial treatment with doxorubicin synergistically inhibited tumor growth. These results suggest that anti-EGFR immunolipoplexes containing pDNA encoding therapeutic genes could be utilized as a gene-transfer modality for cancer gene therapy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cetuximab / administration & dosage*
  • Cetuximab / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Crotalid Venoms / genetics*
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / administration & dosage*
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics*
  • Liposomes / administration & dosage
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Nanoconjugates / administration & dosage*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Liposomes
  • Nanoconjugates
  • salmosin
  • Interleukin-12
  • Cetuximab