FIG. 4.
Sonoporation-delivered IL-27 gene therapy reduces prostate tumor growth in immune-competent models. (A) Intratumoral delivery of IL-27 by sonoporation reduces the growth rate of aggressive RM1 tumors. Four sonoporation treatments, using either control empty plasmid (Sono-ctrl) or pIL-27 (Sono-27), at 50 μg/treatment, were spaced 48 hr apart starting at day 2 post subcutaneous (s.c.) implantation of 5×103 RM1 cells in C57/BL6 male mice (n=8/group). Tumor volume (mm3) was subsequently measured using vernier calipers. *p<0.05. Arrows indicate treatment days. (B) Intratumoral delivery of IL-27 by sonoporation reduces growth rate of s.c. TRAMP-C1 tumors and improves survival over time. Four sonoporation treatments (Sono-ctrl or Sono-27, 50 μg/treatment) were spaced 48 hr apart starting at day 7 post s.c. implantation of 4×106 TRAMP-C1 cells in C57/BL6 male mice (n=8/group). Tumor volume (mm3) was subsequently measured using vernier calipers. *p<0.02. Arrows indicate treatment days. (C) Intratumoral delivery of IL-27 by sonoporation reduces growth rate of TRAMP-C2 tumors and improves survival over time. Four sonoporation or Ad (control or IL-27) treatments were spaced 48 hr apart starting at day 38 post s.c. implantation of 2×106 TRAMP-C2 cells in C57/BL6 male mice. Tumor volume (mm3) was subsequently measured using vernier calipers (n=8/group). Left: Tumor volume plotted as a function of time. Right: Relative tumor growth rate calculated as described (Figueiredo et al., 2005). Intratumoral delivery of IL-27 by sonoporation appears to be more effective against s.c. TRAMP-C2 tumors than Ad-IL-27 delivery. *p<0.05. Arrows indicate treatment days.