Emory University

John A Petros

Dennis C Liotta

Jan Pohl

Joan F Karr

Alawode Oladele

Shiow-Jyi Wey

Sam D Graham

A water soluble delivery system for nucleic acids to cells having androgen receptors, preferably prostate cells, is provided comprising a steroid moiety capable of binding to said receptors, said steroid moiety being covalently linked to a polycationic material. This molecule may be complexed with therapeutic or diagnostic nucleic acids. Methods of diagnosis and therapy using these compositions are also provided, including gene therapy treatments for prostate cancer.

Compositions and methods for targeting pharmaceutically active materials to cells containing androgen receptors

The present invention relates to improved methods for introducing nucleic acid into cells by first complexing the nucleic acid with a selected polycationic oligomer which neutralizes the negative charge of the nucleic acid, and then contacting the cell with the complex facilitating uptake of the nucleic acid into the cells as a complex with the oligomer. The methods are preferably applied to introduction of nucleic acid into eukaryotic cells, and more preferably into human cells. The invention also relates to methods of introducing antisense and triplex-forming oligonucleotides into prostate cancer cells to inhibit expression of proteins associated with (or that promote) malignancy and to inhibit cell growth or proliferation. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting the expression of the HER-2/NEU protein in prostate cancer cells and to a method for inhibiting prostate cancer cell growth or proliferation.

Polycationic oligomers

Growth of transition cell carcinoma cells is found to be inhibited by dextran sulfate. Intravesicular instillation of a dextran sulfate solution prevents growth of bladder carcinoma cells. Dextran sulfate has an inhibitory effect on binding of insulin-like growth factor to bladder tumor cells.

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Norcross, GA, United States of America

John A Petros