To investigate the antitumor effect of endostatin in lung cancer, the present study was designed to explore the alterations of microvessel density in Lewis lung cancer models and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, following endostatin therapy.
In order to further explore the role of Ad-endostatin combined with irradiation in the treatment of cancer, a murine lung cancer model was established and treated with Ad-endostatin combined with low-dose irradiation.
Transcription levels of VEGF and endostatin were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer (92 cases) and with lung benign disease (36 cases).
These observations provide further evidence of the antitumor effect of endostatin gene therapy, and may be of importance for further exploration of potential application of this combined approach in the treatment of human lung cancer as well as other solid tumors.
These findings are very promising and suggest that endostatin therapy with a plasmid vector, such as pXLG-mEndo, may enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy for lung cancer.