To assess the requirements for papilloma formation in transgenic mice that overexpress transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in the epidermis (HK1.TGF alpha), we tested the sensitivity of HK1.TGF alpha mice to tumor promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and analyzed the resultant papillomas for synergic c-Ha-ras activation and overexpression. We observed that HK1.TGF alpha mice were highly sensitive to TPA promotion, exhibiting multiple papillomas as early as the third week of treatment. After 60 wk of promotion, malignant conversion was not observed and tumors regressed upon removal of the TPA promotion stimulus. Most of the TPA-induced papillomas did not have detectable c-Ha-ras mutations at codons 12, 13, or 61, but three papillomas arising after long-term TPA promotion (5-7 mo) exhibited c-Ha-ras activation at codon 61 (A-->T and A-->G). Conversely, spontaneous papillomas arising without TPA promotion, including persisting autonomous papillomas, were all negative for activating c-Ha-ras mutations. Both spontaneous and TPA-induced HK1.TGF alpha papillomas expressed c-Ha-ras message levels similar to those in normal, nontransgenic epidermis or HK1.TGF alpha hyperplastic epidermis. These data demonstrate that TGF-alpha overexpression can be an initiating event for TPA promotion, that papillomatogenesis in HK1.TGF alpha mice proceeds frequently via a pathway independent of Ha-ras activation or overexpression, and, thus, that other events are required for autonomous growth and malignant conversion.

To assess the potential of an in vivo, adenovirus-mediated gene therapy approach for the treatment of malignant melanoma, the efficacy of adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-Ek) transfer and administration of ganciclovir (GCV) was investigated using a nude mouse model. Initially, B16 murine melanoma cells were efficiently transduced in vitro by a recombinant replication-defective adenovirus containing the HSV-tk gene (ADV/RSVtk), and rendered sensitive to cell killing by 10 micrograms/ml GCV. A significant "bystander effect" was observed at low multiplicity of infection in comparison of cell killing to control B16 transduction by adenovirus containing the beta-galactosidase gene (ADV/RSV-beta-gal). In vivo, melanomas established from subcutaneous injection of 4 x 10(5) B16 cells were injected after 14 d with 1 x 10(10) ADV/RSV-tk viral particles. Subsequent treatment for 6 d with GCV resulted in an inhibition of melanoma growth, with an approximately 40-50% reduction in melanoma volume in comparison to controls in repeated experiments. These data demonstrate that adenovirus-mediated gene transfer can function as an efficient delivery system to reduce established tumor burden in vivo. This result may hold significant promise for the development of effective in situ gene therapy for melanoma in humans.