PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Dorothy L. Reimer AU - Spencer Kong AU - Myrna Monck AU - Jessica Wyles AU - Pat Tam AU - Ellen K. Wasan AU - Marcel B. Bally TI - Liposomal Lipid and Plasmid DNA Delivery to B16/BL6 Tumors after Intraperitoneal Administration of Cationic Liposome DNA Aggregates DP - 1999 May 01 TA - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics PG - 807--815 VI - 289 IP - 2 4099 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/289/2/807.short 4100 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/289/2/807.full SO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1999 May 01; 289 AB - The transfer of plasmid expression vectors to cells is essential for transfection after administration of lipid-based DNA formulations (lipoplexes). A murine i.p. B16/BL6 tumor model was used to characterize DNA delivery, liposomal lipid delivery, and gene transfer after regional (i.p.) administration of free plasmid DNA and DNA lipoplexes. DNA lipoplexes were prepared using cationic dioleoyldimethylammonium chloride/dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (50:50 mol ratio) liposomes mixed with plasmid DNA (1 μg DNA/10 nmol lipid). The plasmid used contained the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression (mU/g tumor) was measured to estimate transfection efficiency. Tumor-associated DNA and liposomal lipid levels were measured to estimate the efficiency of lipid-mediated DNA delivery to tumors. Plasmid DNA delivery was estimated using [3H]-labeled plasmid as a tracer, dot blot analysis, and/or Southern analysis. Liposomal lipid delivery was estimated using [14C]-dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine as a liposomal lipid marker. Gene expression in the B16/BL6 tumors was highly variable, with values ranging from greater than 2,000 mU/g tumor to less than 100 mU/g tumor. There was a tendency to observe enhanced transfection in small (<250 mg) tumors. Approximately 18% of the injected dose of DNA was associated with these small tumors 2 h after i.p. administration. Southern analysis of extracted tumor DNA indicated that plasmid DNA associated with tumors was intact 24 h after administration. DNA and associated liposomal lipid are efficiently bound to tumors after regional administration; however, it is unclear whether delivery is sufficient to abet internalization and appropriate subcellular localization of the expression vector. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics