Metastatic colon cancer specific promoter and uses thereof

Abstract

Colon cancer specific promoter sequences and adenovirus vehicles are provided. By providing for transcriptional initiating regulation dependent upon transcription factors that are only active in specific, limited cell types, virus replication will be restricted to the target cells. The modified adenovirus may be used as a vehicle for introducing new genetic capability, particularly associated with cytotoxicity for treating neoplasia.

1 . A colon cancer transcriptional regulatory element (TRE), wherein said TRE is specific for metastatic colon cancer cells. 
     
     
         2 . The TRE according to  claim 1 , wherein said TRE is a human TRE. 
     
     
         3 . The TRE according to  claim 2 , wherein said TRE is derived from a PRL-3 gene. 
     
     
         4 . The TRE according to  claim 3 , wherein said TRE is derived from a 0.6 kb region upstream of the translational start codon for the PRL-3 gene, presented herein as SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         5 . The TRE according to  claim 3 , wherein said TRE is derived from a 1 kb region upstream of the translational start codon for the PRL-3 gene, presented herein as SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         6 . The TRE according to  claim 3 , wherein said TRE has the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, or a functional fragment thereof. 
     
     
         7 - 21 . (canceled)