Retroviral display of urokinase-binding domain fused to amphotropic envelope protein.

Tumors frequently express urokinase (uPA) receptor (uPAR). To investigate whether uPAR can efficiently target cancerous cells using amphotropic retroviral vectors, we generated a retrovirus displaying the amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of uPA as an N-terminal extension of viral envelope protein. We also made use of a "two-step strategy" by inserting a uPA cleavage site between the ATF moiety and the envelope.

Gene transfer of constitutively active caspase-3 induces apoptosis in a human hepatoma cell line.

Background: The caspase-3 gene is expressed at significantly lower levels in human hepatocellular carcinomas than in normal hepatocytes. Gene transfer technologies offer the possibility to restore caspase-3 gene expression. We explored the interest for cancer gene therapy of a constitutively active recombinant caspase-3 (RevCasp3) obtained by rearranging its subunits.