Interleukin-2 gene-encoded stromal cells inhibit the growth of metastatic cholangiocarcinomas

AIM： To demonstrate bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs） can be used as an attractive target for genetic modification in the treatment of malignant diseases. METHODS： Using a hamster model of biliary cancer, we investigated the therapeutic effects of interleukin-2 （IL-2） gene-modified BHSCs. Syrian golden hamsters were injected via the femoral vein with 5×10^5 cells of the KIGB-5 biliary cancer cell line （n=20）. One week later, the hamsters were injected intraperitoneally with BMSCs containing Ad/hIL-2 and Ad/△E1, unmodified BHSCs, or RPHI only （control） and observed for 12 wk （n=5/each group）. RESULTS： All hamsters treated with BMSCs containing Ad/hIL-2 survived with no evidence of the disease during this period. In contrast, hamsters in the other three groups showed disseminated metastases involving the lungs as eady as 4 wk. CONCLUSION： Ad/IL-2 therapy is effective in the treatment of biliary cancer.