Recombinant virus-mediated transfer of the wild-type p53 gene is a potent therapeutic strategy for human cancer

Tumor suppressor p53 gene, which is most commonly mutated in human cancers, plays an important role in the control of cell cycle and the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death). Transfection of the wild-type p53 gene into tumor cells induced either growth suppression or apoptosis. We have examined the effect of the recombinant retroviral or adenoviral vector expressing the wild-type p53 gene on the tumor cell proliferation as well as on the sensitivity of infected-tumor cells to various anticancer agents. The possible application of recombinant virus-mediated direct in vivo transfer of the wild-type p53 gene to human cancer therapy will be discussed.