Herpes vector-mediated expression of proenkephalin reduces bone cancer pain.

Goss, James R; Harley, Cara F; Mata, Marina; O'Malley, Mark E; Goins, William F; Hu, XiaoPing; Glorioso, Joseph C; Fink, David J · Ann Neurol · 2002

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We examined whether a herpes simplex virus vector that expresses human proenkephalin could be used to attenuate nociception in a model of bone cancer pain in mice. Osteolytic sarcoma cells were implanted into the medullary space of the right femur, followed by a subcutaneous inoculation of a replication-defective herpes simplex virus vector expressing human proenkephalin (vector SHPE) or a lacZ-expressing control vector (vector SHZ). SHPE-inoculated mice demonstrated a significant, naltrexone-reversible decrease in pain-related behavior assessed during open-field motor activity. These results suggest that gene transfer with an enkephalin-expressing vector may be used to treat pain resulting from cancer in bone.

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