RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Rhabdomyosarcoma-Specific Expression of the Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase Gene Confers Sensitivity to Ganciclovir JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 1066 OP 1073 VO 286 IS 2 A1 Christopher L. Morton A1 Philip M. Potter YR 1998 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/286/2/1066.abstract AB We examined a panel of cell lines for the expression of the myogenic proteins myoD and myogenin. High level expression of both proteins was seen in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). To determine whether promoter elements from these genes could direct RMS cell-specific expression, we generated reporter constructs containing one or two copies of the myoD enhancer coupled to the SV40 promoter. Transient transfection reporter assays confirmed the selective expression of β-galactosidase (β-gal) in 8 RMS cell lines. In contrast, very low expression from the myoD enhancer/SV40 promoter was detected in four non-RMS cell lines. To determine whether the hybrid promoter could elicit RMS-specific cytotoxicity, a mammalian expression vector containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) under control of the hybrid myoD enhancer/SV40 promoter was constructed. After electroporation into several cell lines, selective RMS cell kill was observed after treatment with ganciclovir. These data suggest thatin vivo tumor-specific expression of HSVtk from the myoD enhancer/SV40 promoter may provide an alternative to current chemotherapy. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics