Mesothelioma Gene Therapy

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for the treatment of lung cancer through the use of a recombinant gene therapy vector having a transgene encoding interferon. In particular it is noted that interferon when expressed by a recombinant gene therapy vectors possesses properties not associated with exogenously-manufactured interferon proteins. The present disclosure thus provides a method useful in the treatment of lung tumors such as mesothelioma, using a recombinant gene therapy vector having a transgene encoding interferon.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating lung cancer by contacting said cancer with a recombinant vector encoding an interferon. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said recombinant vector is an adenovirus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said adenovirus is replication deficient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said interferon is an interferon a. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said interferon alpha is selected from the group consisting of interferon α2b, interferon α2a, and interferon α2α1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said tumor is comprised of neoplastic mesothelioma cells. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein cells of said lung cancer have been exposed to an enhancing agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  where in the enhancing agent comprises (3α,5β,7α,12α)-N[3-[(4-O-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucanoyl)amino]propyl]-3,7,12-trihydroxy-N[3-[[(3α,5β,7α,12α)-3,7,12-trihydroxy-24-oxocholan-24-yl]amino]propyl]-cholan-24-amide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said vector and sand enhancing agent are administered together. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said interferon is interferon α2b. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said vector and sand enhancing agent are administered contemporaneously. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said vector is administered within an hour after administering the enhancing agent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said vector and said enhancing agent are administered by inhalation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said vector and said enhancing agent are administered intra-lesionally.