Dysregulated cytokine signaling is associated with development and progression of cancers. This study was aimed to investigate whether the gene delivery of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS), a family of negative regulators of cytokine signaling, in cancer cell is effective in inhibition of cancer cell growth in vitro or in vivo. We also examine the detailed mechanism of action of SOCS molecules on cancer cells.
Our current target is malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), an asbestos-related pleural tumor with a poor prognosis. By means of adenoviral gene delivery of SOCS3 into MPM cells in vitro and in vitro, we will determine whether SOCSmediated therapy is a promising strategy to treat cancers. We also are planning for a clinical trial of AdSOCS3 for the therapy of human MPM.
The number of MPM patients is rapidly increasing and is supposed to peak at 2030. However, because MPM is rarely resectable and is also highly resistant to chemotherapy, no curative therapy for MPM has not been established. Our preclinical study indicates that intrathoracic injection of adenovirus vector expressing SOCS3 (AdSOCS3) is a promising strategy to treat human MPM. Our study is thus of clinical and social importance to provide a basis for the development of novel therapy for MPM and possibly other intractable cancers.
