Tumor-infiltrating macrophages are involved in suppressing growth and metastasis of human prostate cancer cells by INF-beta gene therapy in nude mice.

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the role of tumor-infiltrating macrophages in IFN-beta-induced host defense against prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Efficacy of adenovirus-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy against orthotopic xenografts of human prostate cancer was tested in macrophage-compromised nude mice. Immunohistochemistry and Northern blotting were used to elucidate mechanisms responsible for the IFN-beta gene therapy. RESULTS: PC-3MM2 human prostate cancer cells were inoculated into the prostates of nude mice. Intralesional injection of an adenoviral vector-encoding murine IFN-beta (AdmIFN-beta) but not control vector AdE/1 suppressed growth of PC-3MM2 tumors in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal reduction of tumor weight by approximately 85% at 2 x 10(9) plaque-forming units. The therapy prevented metastasis, eradicated established metastases in some mice, and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. The efficacy of AdmIFN-beta therapy was reduced significantly in mice treated with macrophage-selective anti-Mac-1 and anti-Mac-2 antibodies. Moreover, the i.p. injection of the antibodies restored the tumorigenicity of PC-3MM2 cells stably engineered with murine IFN-beta gene. Tumor-infiltrating macrophages, significantly increased in AdmIFN-beta-injected lesions, were depleted by the antibodies. The therapy stimulated expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, down-regulated transforming growth factor-beta1 and interleukin-8, reduced microvessel density, and resulted in apoptosis of endothelial cells in the lesions. These effects of AdmIFN-beta were partially diminished in mice treated with the antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that macrophages play an important role in IFN-beta gene therapy and that intralesional delivery of the IFN-beta gene could be an effective therapy for clinically localized human prostate cancer.