In vivo antitumor activity of 5-fluorocytosine on human colorectal carcinoma cells genetically modified to express cytosine deaminase.

A human colorectal carcinoma cell line, WiDr, was genetically engineered to express the nonmammalian enzyme, cytosine deaminase (CD). Expression of CD in WiDr cells (WiDr/CD) did not alter the growth rate of these cells when grown in vitro or as solid tumor xenografts in nude mice. However, expression of CD did increase the sensitivity of these cells to the nontoxic prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine (FCyt), decreasing the 50% inhibitory concentration for FCyt from 26,000 microM in parental WiDr cells to 27 microM in WiDr/CD cells. The increase in sensitivity to FCyt in WiDr/CD cells was the result of the CD-mediated conversion of FCyt to 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and subsequent FUra anabolites. The half-life of the prodrug, FCyt, was determined to be approximately 40 min in nude mice. A single i.p. injection of 500 mg FCyt/kg body weight resulted in a transient FCyt plasma level of approximately 4000 microM while osmotic minipumps or constant tail vein infusions of FCyt achieved continual FCyt plasma levels of 5 microM and 50 microM, respectively, with no overt signs of toxicity. Significant antitumor effects were observed in nude mice bearing tumors derived from WiDr/CD cells when these animals were given 500 mg FCyt/kg i.p. for 10 consecutive days. These antitumor effects were demonstrated by decreases in tumor growth rate, tumor size, tumor weight, and thymidine incorporation into tumor DNA. This antitumor effect was significant but less profound if FCyt was administered by constant tail vein infusion. WiDr and WiDr/CD cells were very sensitive to FUra in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration approximately 5 microM). However, no significant antitumor effects were observed in nude mice bearing tumors derived from either WiDr or WiDr/CD cells when these animals were treated with various doses of FUra. Taken collectively, these data indicate that nontoxic plasma levels of FCyt can be attained which can produce profound antitumor effects on tumors engineered to express CD and that these antitumor effects are significantly better than those that can be achieved using FUra. These positive data support the continued development of a gene therapy approach to colorectal carcinoma involving the selective expression of CD in colorectal tumors with subsequent administration of FCyt.

Enzyme/prodrug gene therapy: comparison of cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine versus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir enzyme/prodrug systems in a human colorectal carcinoma cell line.

We have been developing an enzyme/prodrug gene therapy approach for the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors in the liver. This system uses the cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FCyt) enzyme/prodrug combination. Another system that has received considerable attention is the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) enzyme/prodrug combination. The purpose of the present study was to compare these two enzyme/prodrug systems. The human colorectal tumor cell line, WiDr, was genetically modified to express either the CD gene (WiDr/CD) or the HSV-TK gene (WiDr/TK). The IC50 (concentration of drug producing 50% inhibition of cell growth) for GCV was approximately 3.4 microM in WiDr/TK cells, while the IC50 for 5-FCyt was approximately 27 microM in WiDr/CD cells. In vivo antitumor studies were conducted using high but nontoxic levels of GCV (50 mg/kg/day) or 5-FCyt (500 mg/kg/day). When tumor xenografts were composed of 100% of cells expressing either HSV-TK or CD, 100% tumor-free animals were observed after GCV or 5-FCyt treatment, respectively. However, when only 10% of the tumor cells expressed HSV-TK, no antitumor effect by GCV treatment could be observed. In contrast, when tumors were composed of 4% of the cells expressing CD, 60% of the animals were tumor-free after 5-FCyt treatment. Transmission electron microscopy of the WiDr solid tumors revealed the presence of desmosomes but no gap junctions.

Transcriptional regulatory sequences of carcinoembryonic antigen: identification and use with cytosine deaminase for tumor-specific gene therapy.

The 5' sequences from the human carcinoembryonic antigen gene (CEA) were analyzed using luciferase reporter gene assays. This analysis identified important cis-acting sequences needed for selective expression in CEA-positive cells. Over 50 CEA/luciferase reporter clones were constructed and analyzed in two CEA-positive and two CEA-negative cell lines. The CEA sequences analyzed extended from the translational start to 14.5 kb 5' of the CEA gene. A 408-bp region from the CEA 3' untranslated region was also examined for its effect on reporter gene activity. The CEA promoter was located between bases -90 and +69 of the transcriptional start site. Sequences between -41 and -18 were essential for expression from the CEA promoter. Multimerization of sequences between -89 and -40 resulted in copy number-related increases in both expression level and selectivity for CEA-positive cells. Two upstream regions of CEA, -13.6 to -10.7 kb or -6.1 to -4.0 kb, when linked to the multimerized promoter led to high-level, selective expression in CEA-positive cell lines. Several CEA/luciferase constructs demonstrated 80- to 120-fold higher expression in CEA-positive cell lines compared to expression in CEA-negative Hep3B cells. The expression from these constructs was quite strong in CEA-positive cells, being two- to four-fold higher than an SV40 enhancer/promoter construct. The most promising CEA transcriptional regulatory sequences were used to regulate the expression of cytosine deaminase (CD) in stable cell lines. The expression of CD was assessed directly by an enzymatic assay and indirectly by determining the in vitro IC50 to 5-fluorocytosine (5FC). The chimeric gene pCEA/CD-145 displayed the desired expression spectrum--high-level expression in the CEA-positive cells and low-level expression in CEA-negative cells. CD expression from this chimera correlated well with the expression of the endogenous CEA gene. Treatment of mice bearing NCI H508 pCEA/CD-145 tumor xenografts with 5FC lead to significant antitumor effects in vivo. The CEA/CD chimeric gene should be useful for tumor-specific suicide gene therapy of CEA-positive tumors.

Virus-directed enzyme/prodrug therapy (VDEPT). Selectively engineering drug sensitivity into tumors.

A gene therapy approach has been described that generates a tumor-selective qualitative difference in the metabolic capability in tumor cells. This is the result of the selective expression of a nonmammalian enzyme in tumor cells. Selective expression is achieved by utilization of a chimeric gene composed of the TRS from a tumor-associated marker gene linked to the coding domain of a gene encoding a nonmammalian enzyme. We have described the application of this approach for the treatment of metastatic CRC. This approach involves creation of a chimeric gene composed of the CEA TRS linked to the coding domain of the CD gene. Selective expression of CD in the tumor cells will allow the selective conversion of the prodrug 5-FCyt to 5-FCyt in the tumor while sparing normal cells. Most importantly, delivery and expression of CD into a small fraction of tumor cells may be sufficient to achieve a significant antitumor effect.

Dynamic electrocardiography. II. A crucial test of the electromechanical QRS wave theory.

The dynamic electromechanical electrocardiogram hypothesis, that QRS voltage fluctuations can be used as a simple noninvasive transducer of cardiac mechanical function, has been subjected to a crucial experiment. Under direct vision, transient modifications of the end-diastolic volume of the baboon heart were produced and photographed. Sequential obstructions to filling (by vena caval compression) and to emptying (by aortic compression), and vice versa, significantly distorted the size and shape of the heart. The instantaneous effects of these manipulations on the amplitudes of the R and S waves were evaluated in electrocardiograms recorded from electrodes glued to selected pericardial and epicardial sites. Major QRS voltage deviations occurred in the perircardial leads. Manipulations increasing the left ventricular volume increased the S wave and reduced the R wave, while those decreasing heartsize had the opposite effect. These findings refute the null hypothesis, that the electrocardiogram is not an indicator of mechanical function. No changes of the QRS waves in the epicardial lead were detected, supporting the concept that displacement relative to the recording electrode is the basis of the QRS CHANGEs due to heartsize variation. The results negate the classical concept that the electrocardiogram does not reflect cardiac mechanical function, and strongly corroborate the dynamic electromechanical electrocardiogram hypothesis.

Development of class-switched, affinity-matured monoclonal antibodies following a 7-day immunization schedule.

Previously we reported making high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 13 days after the onset of Repetitive Immunizations Multiple Sites (RIMMS) strategy. The Ig subclass variety and affinity of these antibodies suggested that maturational processes had already begun within draining lymph nodes. We now demonstrate that this diversity can in fact be captured as early as Day 7. In the work reported here, somatic fusion of immune lymphocytes isolated from peripheral lymph nodes resulted in the isolation of affinity-matured MAbs reactive with cytosine deaminase. This model further demonstrates and substantiates at a cellular level the rapid development and maturation of T-cell-dependent B-cell responses occurring within draining lymph nodes following antigen challenge.

Cytosine deaminase. The roles of divalent metal ions in catalysis.

Cytosine deaminase (CDase, EC 3.5.4.1) isolated from Escherichia coli contains a catalytically essential divalent metal ion. Fe2+ was efficiently removed from the enzyme with o-phenanthroline to yield an apoenzyme with less than 5% of the catalytic activity of native enzyme. The time courses for inactivation and for removal of Fe2+ from the enzyme by o-phenanthroline were similar. Apoenzyme reconstituted with Fe2+, Mn2+, Co2+, or Zn2+ (M2+CDase) had kcat values of 185, 88, 50, and 32 s-1, respectively. The Km values of these M2+CDases for cytosine were similar (0.22-0.39 mM). Cytosine potently inhibited reconstitution of the apoenzyme with Fe2+. Fe2+CDase was rapidly inactivated by 1 mM H2O2 (t1/2 < 1 s), whereas Mn2+CDase, Co2+CDase, and Zn2+CDase were not inactivated by H2O2. CDase was also inhibited by excess divalent cations. Cu2+ and Zn2+ reversibly inhibited Fe2+CDase activity with inhibition constants of 1.8 and 5.8 microM, respectively. Cu2+ dissociated slowly from the secondary binding on CDase with a rate constant of 2 x 10(-3) s-1.

A first step in the development of gene therapy for colorectal carcinoma: cloning, sequencing, and expression of Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase.

We have developed a new approach involving gene therapy for the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors in the liver. As a first step toward the development of this gene therapy treatment for metastatic colorectal carcinoma, the Escherichia coli gene that encodes cytosine deaminase (CD) (EC 3.5.4.1) has been cloned. By using positive genetic selection, a plasmid carrying a 10.8-kilobase BamHI/EcoRI DNA insert was isolated that had CD enzymatic activity. Genetic screening, followed by enzymatic assays, identified a 3-kilobase DNA fragment that retained CD activity. Deamination of cytosine and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) by cloned CD was demonstrated. DNA and protein sequencing identified an open reading frame of 427 amino acids that encodes CD. To demonstrate that expression of CD in eukaryotic cells allows metabolism of the nontoxic prodrug 5-FC to the toxic metabolite 5-fluorouracil, CD was cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector and transfected into a human colorectal carcinoma cell line. Growth inhibition studies showed a shift in the IC50 for 5-FC from 17,000 microM in the parental cell line to 30 microM in cells expressing CD.

Efficient incorporation of galactose into lipopolysaccharide by Escherichia coli K-12 strains with polar galE mutations.

Efficient incorporation of exogenous galactose into lipopolysaccharide was observed in a strain with a galE::Tn10 insertion and a strain with a deletion of galOPE. No incorporation was observed in a strain with a longer (galETK) deletion, indicating that incorporation into the galE mutants was due to a low level of expression of galTK from internal or fortuitous promoters. These galE mutants provided a convenient and specific way to radiolabel lipopolysaccharide.

Metabolism of 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil in human colorectal tumor cells transduced with the cytosine deaminase gene: significant antitumor effects when only a small percentage of tumor cells express cytosine deaminase.

The gene encoding cytosine deaminase (CD) has been expressed in the human colorectal carcinoma cell line WiDr. Metabolism studies confirm that tumor cells expressing CD convert the very nontoxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5FCyt) to 5-fluorouracil (5FUra) and 5FUra metabolites. Tumor xenografts composed of CD-expressing cells can selectively generate tumor levels of > 400 microM 5FUra when the host mouse is dosed with nontoxic levels of 5FCyt. The selective metabolic conversion of 5FCyt to 5FUra in CD-expressing tumor cells results in the inhibition of thymidylate synthase and incorporation of 5FUra into RNA. 5FUra is also liberated into the surrounding environment when CD-expressing tumor cells are treated with 5FCyt. The liberated 5FUra is able to kill neighboring, non-CD-expressing tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Most importantly, when only 2% of the tumor mass contains CD-expressing cells (98% non-CD-expressing cells), significant regressions in all tumors are observed when the host mouse is dosed with nontoxic levels of 5FCyt.

Genetic analysis of lipopolysaccharide core biosynthesis by Escherichia coli K-12: insertion mutagenesis of the rfa locus.

Tn10 insertions were selected on the basis of resistance to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific bacteriophage U3. The majority of these were located in a 2-kilobase region within the rfa locus, a gene cluster of about 18 kb that contains genes for LPS core biosynthesis. The rfa::Tn10 insertions all exhibited a deep rough phenotype that included hypersensitivity to hydrophobic antibiotics, a reduction in major outer membrane proteins, and production of truncated LPS. These mutations were complemented by a Clarke-Carbon plasmid known to complement rfa mutations of Salmonella typhimurium, and analysis of the insert from this plasmid showed that it contained genes for at least six polypeptides which appear to be arranged in the form of a complex operon. Defects in two of these genes were specifically implicated as the cause of the deep rough phenotype. One of these appeared to be rfaG, which encodes a function required for attachment of the first glucose residue to the heptose region of the core. The other gene did not appear to be directly involved in determination of the sugar composition of the core. We speculate that the product of this gene is involved in the attachment of phosphate or phosphorylethanolamine to the core and that it is the lack of one of these substituents which results in the deep rough phenotype.