Cell Cycle Regulator Activation Induced by Ganciclovir in Human Non-small Lung Cancer Cells, CL-1, Transfected with Herpes Simplex Virus-thymidine Kinase

Abstract

Human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were transfected with herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) cDNA and the cells resistant to G418 were selected. Two clones were investigated based on their difference of the expression level of HSV-tk and investigated for their sensitivity toward exogenous ganciclovir (GCV). The apoptosis from cell susceptibility to (ley and the bystander effect is dependent on the level of HSV-tk followed by activation of cell cycle modulators and tumor suppressor p53. The study provided a model for better understanding of gene therapy in cancer cells that helps the in vivo work.