Methods for treating cancers and restenosis with p21

Abstract

The p21 gene encodes a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor which affects cell cycle progression, but the role of this gene product in altering tumor growth has not been established. The present inventors have now discovered that the growth of malignant cells in vivo is inhibited by expression of p21. Expression of p21 resulted in an accumulation of cells in G 0 /G 1 , alteration in morphology, and cell differentiation.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A kit for treating a disease in a patient, the kit comprising a syringe and a nucleic acid comprising a gene encoding p21.  
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , further comprising a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutical carrier comprises the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the nucleic acid is an expression vector.  
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the expression vector comprises a viral promoter.  
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the viral promoter is a CMV promoter.  
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the viral promoter is a RSV promoter.  
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein a viral particle comprises the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the viral particle is an adenovirus particle.  
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the viral particle is a retrovirus particle.  
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 17 , further comprising a liposome.  
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein the liposome comprises the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a second gene.  
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the second gene encodes HLA-B7, an immunotherapeutic agent, cytokine, or prodrug converting enzyme.  
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein the prodrug converting enzyme is thymidine kinase.  
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the gene encoding p21 and the second gene are operatively linked.  
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 32 , wherein the gene encoding p21 and the second gene are operatively linked such that they encode a fusion protein.  
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 33 , wherein the fusion protein is a p21-thymidine kinase fusion protein.