The long term goal of our application is to contribute to the advancement of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) by increasing the molecular understanding of PDT mediated cytotoxicity and by developing strategies to enhance the local tumoricidal response following PDT. The investigators will build upon recently completed studies to accomplish our objectives. The investigators have isolated mouse RIF fibrosarcoma cells exhibiting a stable PDT resistant phenotype. The investigators have also demonstrated that PDT mediated oxidative stress is a strong transcriptional inducer of stress proteins belonging to the glucose regulated protein (GRP) family and the heat shock protein (HSP) family. The investigators hypothesize that analyzing PDT resistance will provide insights into basic mechanisms of PDT induced cytotoxicity and thereby lead to strategies to improve PDT. The investigators also hypothesize that targeted gene therapy using recombinant constructs with PDT inducible promoters to drive high level local expression of cytotoxins and/or immuno-modulators will enhance PDT tumoricidal action.
Two specific aims will address the hypotheses: 1.) to examine the molecular, cellular and in-vivo parameters associated with our PDT resistant cells. The investigators will identify and characterize differentially expressed genes in parental and PDT resistant RIF tumor cells as well as in cells exposed to PDT mediated cytotoxicity. The roles of identified genes in modulating PDT sensitivity and photosensitizer localization will be evaluated using vector mediated gene transfer and subcellular confocal fluorescence microscopy. 2.) to use PDT inducible promoters to selectively drive expression of target genes. The investigators will use grp-78 and hsp-70 promoter/reporter gene constructs to examine PDT parameters required for optimal in-vitro and in-vivo gene expression. The investigators will then evaluate grp-78 and hsp-70 promoter/TNFalpha fusion constructs for PDT induced expression of TNFalpha in RIF tumor cells grown in culture or transplanted into C3H mice. The investigators will also examine the effectiveness of PDT inducible promoter/TNFalpha expression constructs to enhance the tumoricidal effectiveness of PDT.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA031230-17
Application #
2882305
Study Section
Radiation Study Section (RAD)
Program Officer
Stone, Helen B
Project Start
1982-03-01
Project End
2001-02-28
Budget Start
1999-03-01
Budget End
2000-02-29
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Department
Type
DUNS #
094878337
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90027
Ferrario, Angela; Lim, Sophia; Xu, Frank et al. (2011) Enhancement of photodynamic therapy by 2,5-dimethyl celecoxib, a non-cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor analog of celecoxib. Cancer Lett 304:33-40
Ferrario, Angela; Luna, Marian; Rucker, Natalie et al. (2011) Pro-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties of the green tea constituent epigallocatechin gallate increase photodynamic therapy responsiveness. Lasers Surg Med 43:644-50
Ferrario, Angela; Gomer, Charles J (2010) Targeting the tumor microenvironment using photodynamic therapy combined with inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 or vascular endothelial growth factor. Methods Mol Biol 635:121-32
Luna, Marian; Ferrario, Angela; Wong, Sam et al. (2010) Identification of MAP kinase pathways involved in COX-2 expression following photofrin photodynamic therapy. Methods Mol Biol 635:47-63
Ferrario, Angela; Gomer, Charles J (2010) Targeting the 90 kDa heat shock protein improves photodynamic therapy. Cancer Lett 289:188-94
Luna, Marian; Wong, Sam; Ferrario, Angela et al. (2008) Cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by photofrin photodynamic therapy involves the p38 MAPK pathway. Photochem Photobiol 84:509-14
Ferrario, Angela; Rucker, Natalie; Wong, Sam et al. (2007) Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family, is induced by photodynamic therapy and is a target for improving treatment response. Cancer Res 67:4989-95
Bozkulak, Ozguncem; Wong, Sam; Luna, Marian et al. (2007) Multiple components of photodynamic therapy can phosphorylate Akt. Photochem Photobiol 83:1029-33
Ferrario, Angela; Fisher, Anita M; Rucker, Natalie et al. (2005) Celecoxib and NS-398 enhance photodynamic therapy by increasing in vitro apoptosis and decreasing in vivo inflammatory and angiogenic factors. Cancer Res 65:9473-8
Ferrario, Angela; Chantrain, Christophe F; von Tiehl, Karl et al. (2004) The matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor prinomastat enhances photodynamic therapy responsiveness in a mouse tumor model. Cancer Res 64:2328-32

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