ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To approach the treatment efficiency of replication defective adenovirus carrying HSV-tk gene under control of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter in a mouse xenografts model of prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>It was erected that the model of human prostate cancer in BALB/C nude mouse followed by locally injecting Ad-hTERT-HSV-tk and peritoneal injection of GCV. The anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated by index of tumor volume, tumor weight, relative tumor curative, and tumor growth curve. Afterwards, the TUNEL and transmission electron microscope to overview apoptosis of tumor cells were used. Finally, immunohistochemistry for detecting PCNA of tumor cells were applied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, all viruses treatment groups demonstrated tumor growth inhibition. Among 3 treatment groups, antitumoral effect of Ad-hTERT-HSV-tk/GCV was much stronger than other two groups (P < 0.05). Obvious necrosis and apoptosis was observed by TUNEL, and PCNA was detected by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues in all viruses treatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ad-hTERT-HSV-tk/GCV system is highly efficacious to inhabit the growth of human prostate cancer.</p>