WO1996022688A1 - A proliferation-inhibiting gene sequence and its use in the treatment of cancer and other diseases - Google Patents

Abstract

The gene sequences that comprise genetic determinants that control the capacity of cells to proliferate and methods for isolating same are provided. The sequences can be used in a gene therapy for cancer and viral infection, particularly AIDS.

Description

A PROLIFERATION-INHIBITING GENE SEQUENCE

AND ITS USE IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention is in the field of recombinant DNA technology. This invention is directed to a gene sequence that controls the capacity of cells to proliferate. The invention is directed further to the use of this gene sequence in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases. This invention was supported with Government funds

(NIH AG 05333). The Government has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND ART:

I. Cellular Control of Proliferation

Normal human diploid cells have a finite potential for proliferative growth. Thus, as the aging process occurs, the capacity of cells to proliferate gradually diminishes. Under controlled conditions, in vitro cultured human cells can proliferate maximally only to about 80 cumulative population doublings. The proliferative potential of such cells has been found to be a function of the number of cumulative population doublings which the cell has undergone, and to be inversely proportional to the in vivo age of the cell donor.

Such loss of cellular proliferative capacity is termed "senescence," and is the in vitro analog of aging (Hayflick, L. et al, Exper. Cell Res. 37: 614-636 (1965); Norwood, T.H. et al., In: Handbook of the Biology of

Aging (2nd ed.), Finch, C.E. et al. (eds.) Van Nostrand, New York pp. 291- 311 (1985); Goldstein, S., Science 249:1129-1133 (1990); Smith, J.R., Monogr. Devel. Biol. 17:193-208 (1984); Smith, J.R. et al, Exper. Gerontol. 24:377-381 (1989), all herein incorporated by reference). Experimental evidence suggests that the age-dependent loss of proliferative potential may be the function of a genetic program. Indeed, the onset of senescence and aging are accompanied by significant changes in the profile of genes that are expressed. Through an analysis of such changes, researchers have identified unique mRNAs that are amplified in senescent cells in vitro, thus suggesting that cellular senescence is mediated by an inhibitor of DNA synthesis (Spiering, A.I. et al, Exper. Cell Res. 179:159-167 (1988); and Pereira-Smith, O.M., et al, Exper. Cell Res. 160:297-306 (1985). The recognition of such changes has prompted efforts to clone the genes that encode the factors that control cellular senescence and proliferative capacity. Smith, J.R. (PCT Patent Appln.

Publication No. WO 93/12251) describes senescent cell-derived inhibitors of DNA synthesis.

Although the proliferative capacity of a cell is believed to be regulated carefully, cells can, through mutation or viral infection, lose their ability to respond to such regulatory factors and thereby re-acquire a capacity to proliferate. Thus, cells cultured in vitro can, at low frequency, escape senescence and thereby become immortalized. In vivo, such uncontrolled cellular proliferation is a defining characteristic of cancer. Insight into the control of cellular proliferation has been gained from studies in which normal and immortal cells have been fused to form synkaryons. Such studies have demonstrated that the quiescent phenotype of a normal cell is dominant over the proliferative phenotype of an immortalized carcinoma cell (Bunn, C.L. et al, Exper. Cell Res. 127:385-396 (1985); Pereira-Smith, O.M., et al, Somat. Cell Genet. 7:411- 421 (1981); Pereira-Smith, O.M., et al, Science 221:964-966 (1983);

Muggleton-Harris, A., et al, Somat. Cell Genet. 6:689-698 (1980)).

Pereira-Smith, O.M. et al. demonstrated that pairwise fusions between different immortalized cells occasionally resulted in hybrids that had lost their capacity to proliferate (Pereira-Smith, O.M., et al, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 85:6042-6046 (1988)). By systematically conducting a pairwise analysis, four complementation groups were identified (A, B, C, and D). The fusion of cells having the same complementation group created hybrids that maintained the immortalized character of the parental cells. In contrast, when immortalized cells of different complementation groups were fused, the normal genes of one parent "complemented" the deficient mutant genes of the other, and the resulting hybrids became senescent. This discovery suggested the possibility that a small number of undefined and unidentified genes or pathways might control the ability of a cell to proliferate.

II. AIDS and HIV Infection

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is believed to be caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By the end of the 20th century, 40 million people are expected to suffer from AIDS. At least two primary strains of HIV, designated HIV-1 and HIV-2) have been associated with the onset of AIDS.

HIV is a member of the retrovirus family. As such, it replicates through an RNA intermediate. Unlike other families of viruses, the propagation of retroviruses occur preferentially, if not exclusively, in proliferating cells. Indeed, the primary drugs used for treating AIDS patients are nucleotide analogues (such as azidothymidine (AZT) and deoxynucleotides other than AZT such as 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA), dideoxyinosine (ddl), and dideoxycytidine (ddC)) that are directed against the HIV reverse transcriptase gene and viral replication. Administration of these nucleotide analogues to AIDS patients has had some success in slowing the rate of intercellular spreading of the virus in a small number of cases. The available drugs and therapies have, however, been unable to halt the fatal progress of the disease. Moreover, undesired side effects and high cost have limited the applicability and availability of such agents. At present, no long term successful therapy for AIDS exists. In sum, an ability to arrest the proliferative capacity of cells would provide a means for attenuating aberrant cellular proliferation, and thus would provide an effective therapy for cancer. Similarly, because retroviruses preferentially replicate in proliferating cells, an ability to arrest temporarily cellular proliferation would provide a means for combatting retroviral infection, and in particular, would comprise a therapy for AIDS. The present invention provides molecules and methods capable of mediating such effects.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The present invention concerns, in part, the recognition of a gene sequence that is capable of inhibiting or arresting the proliferative capacity of a cell. In one embodiment, such a gene sequence, when combined with a suitable genetic therapy comprises a therapy for cancer and diseases, such as AIDS, that involve proliferative cells. In a second embodiment, the identification of the gene sequence provides a unique means for diagnosing the extent and/or severity of malignancy in a biopsy or other tissue sample. Such diagnostic utility reflects the expectation that the gene sequence is expressed in non-proliferating cells, and thus, the presence of RNA corresponding to the gene sequence, or of the protein encoded by the gene sequence is usually indicative of a normal, non- proliferative state. Hence, the failure to identify such RNA or protein in a histological sample provides a means for identifying tumors and neoplastic tissue.

In detail, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence substantially identical to a human chromosomal fragment that is capable of inhibiting undesired or uncontrolled cellular proliferation, such as the proliferation of hyperproliferative cell such as a cancerous cell, or a virally-infected cell of a human patient.

The invention is particularly concerned with the embodiments wherein the cell is a cancerous cell belonging to a complementation group selected from the group consisting of A, B, C or D; and most preferably concerned with a cancerous cell belonging to the B complementation group.

The invention is concerned additionally with the embodiments wherein the nucleic acid molecule is capable of hybridizing to a nucleic acid sequence present in normal human chromosome 4.

The invention further provides embodiments wherein the nucleic acid molecule contains its own promoter, or a tumor specific promoter operably linked to the chromosomal fragment and is capable of mediating the preferential expression of the chromosomal fragment in a tumor cell, and/or wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a viral vector, the vector being encapsulated in a viral coat. The invention further provides a protein, substantially free of its natural contaminants, wherein the protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the sequence of a human chromosomal fragment, and is capable of inhibiting undesired or uncontrolled cellular proliferation, such as the proliferation of hyperproliferative cell, such as a cancerous or virally-infected cell of an animal. The invention also provides a method for treating cancer in an individual which comprises providing to a cancerous cell of the individual an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment of human chromosome 4, that is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of the cell.

The invention also provides a protein, substantially free of its natural contaminants, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment from human chromosome 4, wherein said protein is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of a cell of a patient. The invention is particularly drawn to inhibiting the proliferation of a cancerous cell, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group B complementation group.

The invention also provides a method for treating viral infection in an individual which comprises providing to a virally-infected cell of the individual an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment of human chromosome 4, that is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of virus by the cell.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:

I. The Determinants of Cellular Proliferation The present invention derives in part from the identification of gene sequences that are determinants of cellular proliferation.

As used herein, a "gene sequence" is a nucleic acid molecule. As used herein, a "determinant of cellular proliferation" is a gene sequence that, when introduced into a recipient cell, alters the proliferative capacity of that cell. Any cell may serve as the recipient cell, however, the invention is particularly directed to the treatment of "hyperproliferative" cells. Such cells are characterized by undesired or uncontrolled growth, and include cancerous cells, virally infected cells, cells of the immune system, epidermal cells, etc. As used herein, a molecule comprising "a sequence of a human chromosomal fragment" may be either RNA or DNA, and denotes that the nucleic acid molecule contains a region whose nucleotide sequence is "substantially identical" to the nucleotide sequence that is naturally found in a chromosome of a human. Two sequences are substantially identical if each will hybridize to the complement of the other under stringent hybridization conditions.

The determinants of the present invention thus comprise human chromosomal fragments that are capable of inducing quiescence or senescence in a previously proliferating cell. Such determinants include the natural allelic variants of such sequences (i.e., those that are capable of inducing a proliferative state in previously quiescent or senescent cells as well as those that are capable of inducing quiescence or senescence in a previously proliferating cell). The determinants of the present invention further include mutated gene sequences of such allelic variants.

Methods for isolating, identifying and using such determinants are described below.

II. Isolation of the Determinants of Cellular Proliferation

The recognition that mutations in the genes of one of four complementation groups (See Pereira-Smith, O.M. et al, Proc. Natl. Acad.

Sci. (U.S.A.) 85:6042-6046 (1988)), like the recognition that many diseases (e.g. cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Tay-Sachs, etc.) are genetically transmitted, suggested a genetic basis for cellular proliferation, but did not reveal either the identity of the controlling gene sequences, or provide a means for isolating or correcting the gene sequences. Thus the research suggested the existence of a gene, or set of genes that control cellular proliferation, but did not provide guidance with respect to the isolation of these genes.

Previous research suggested that chromosome 11 might contain a determinant of tumorigenic suppression possibly mediated by cellular proliferation. Available evidence had suggested that chromosome 11 contained genes relevant to a Wilm's tumor line and to two cervical carcinoma (see, e.g. Weissman, B.E. et al, Science 236:175-180 (1987). Thus, initial attempts to further localize the gene or genes that defined the complementation groups responsible for cellular proliferation involved forming microcell hybrid cells from immortalized human cells by introducing a normal human chromosome 11, using as the microcell donor a murine cell that contained human chromosome 11. Contrary to expectations, however, the hybrid cells continued to exhibit an immortalized phenotype (Ning, Y. et al, Exper. Cell Res. 292:220-226

(1991); Ning, Y. et al. Mutat. Res. 256:303-310 (1991)). Thus, the sought- after proliferation-related determinants were not present on chromosome 11.

Whole-cell fusion studies had shown that the tumorigenic phenotype of a fibrosarcoma cell line could be suppressed following fusion with normal human fibroblasts. Since cytogenetic comparison of non- tumorigenic hybrids with tumorigenic segregant revealed a correlation between the loss of chromosomes 1 and 4 and the re-expression of tumorigenic potential (Benedict, W.F. et al, Cane. Res. 44: 3471-3479 (1984)), a normal human chromosome 4 present in a murine cell line was introduced into immortalized cells of the A, B, C and D complementation groups by microcell fusion. Cells of complementation groups A, C or D formed hybrids that maintained the immortalized phenotype of the parent cells. In contrast, however, cells of complementation group B formed hybrids that exhibited a quiescent or senescent phenotype. These experiments thus revealed that a genetic determinant for cellular proliferation resided somewhere in the 1 x 10⁸ - 3 x 10⁸ base pairs of chromosome 4.

The present invention provides a means for isolating the determinants of cellular proliferation that are present on human chromosomes, and in particular on human chromosome 4. In a preferred embodiment for isolating such determinants, microcell-mediated chromosomal transfer is used to identify the chromosome that possesses a particular determinant. Microcell-mediated chromosome transfer is a technique by which one can introduce single, intact chromosomes derived from one cell into another. The method has proven to be a valuable tool for genetic manipulation.

For such purpose, microcell donor cells are plated onto plastic bullets cut from tissue culture flasks and incubated in medium (such as Eagle's minimal essential medium with Earles salts + 10% fetal bovine serum. Following attachment, colcemid (approximately 0.1 μg/ml) is added, resulting in micronucleation of 80-90% of the cells. The bullets are then centrifuged at 28,000g for approximately 50 minutes, and filtered (5 μm filter membrane) to increase the proportion of single chromosome microcells. Hybrid cells are formed preferably by fusing recipient cells with the microcells through a 60 second exposure to 50% polyethylene glycol 1500, followed by washes in serum-free medium.

Preferably, choice of the microcell donor and the recipient cell is such that the recombinant hybrid can be selected directly. Recipient cells, in general, comprise both stable hybrids and unstable hybrids (in which the human chromosome(s) transferred are unstable and are lost or segregated upon further cell growth). The presence of such instability is apparent after several population doublings. Thus, the cells are extensively cultured, and after approximately 100 population doublings, are evaluated to determine whether they contain any human chromosome(s), and if so, the identity of the chromosome contained.

Once a quiescent hybrid cell line has been isolated, and, using the above-described methods, the identity of the human chromosome of its microcell donor has been ascertained, the isolation of a determinant of cellular proliferation is undertaken. Any of a variety of cytogenetic methods may be used for this purpose. Thus karyotype analysis can be performed. Alternatively, human chromosome-specific primers are used to detect human chromosome-specific amplification. A preferred method is to employ fluorescently labelled chromosomal markers such as are widely available, and to assess whether a particular clonal line contains a human chromosome that is capable of binding a particular chromosome- specific marker.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the donor cell is formed by fusing such a murine cell with a normal human cell that carries a neomycin or HPRT-resistance determinant on one of its chromosomes. Murine A9 cells are a preferred mouse cell for this purpose. A preferred recipient human cell is a tumor-derived fibroblast cell or epithelial-derived cell that has been previously assigned to one of the four complementation groups. Such assignation is obtained by fusing the recipient cell with a cell of each of the four groups, and determining which cell from a complementation group is capable of forming a continuously proliferating hybrid cell. In such manner, hybrid cells are prepared that contain any one of the human chromosomes. Such cells are then evaluated to determine the frequency with which their progeny exhibit a return to a quiescent or senescent state. The recognition of such a state is determined by any of a variety of means, such as by microscopic evaluation, turbidity, confluence, colony morphology, incorporation of radiolabelled nucleotides, etc.

Because human chromosomes are hundreds of thousands of kilobases in length, classical restriction endonuclease cleavage and cloning into plasmid vectors is unwieldy, and unlikely to be successful. For this reason, the subcloning of the desired determinant of cellular proliferation is performed by conducting the above-described microcell fusion, and then evaluating the resultant quiescent clones to determine whether they contain an entire chromosome, or only a fragment of a chromosome. Clones containing such fragments arise spontaneously, via genetic rearrangement and translocation between the human and murine chromosomes of the microcell donor. Clones containing fragments of chromosomes are then employed to subclone the human chromosomal fragment. Such subcloning is optional, and where desired may be omitted in favor of conducting a marker analysis in the manner described below. The yeast artificial cloning (YAC) system is most preferably exploited for such optional sub-cloning. The YAC system employs a yeast minichromosomal vector that is capable of containing between 50-1,000 kilobases. Thus, by fragmenting the relevant human chromosomes into approximately 300-500 parts, it is possible to obtain a library of chromosomal fragments that may then be screened to identity the fragment that contains the desired cellular proliferation determinant. The screening of such a library, however, is exceedingly laborious and complex.

The original hybrids, or the cloned subchromosomal fragments are preferably evaluated further to determine whether they contain or lack chromosome-specific markers. A senescent clone that was formed from, for example, a chromosome 4 microcell donor, but that lacks a particular chromosome 4-specific marker, indicates that the region adjacent to the marker site is not involved in regulating the quiescent state. Similarly, the identification of a particular chromosome 4-specific marker indicates that the region adjacent to the marker site is linked to the desired determinant of cellular proliferation. Suitable markers are well known in the art.

Once one or more marker sites that flank a desired determinant of cellular proliferation have been identified, the determinant is cloned through the use of in vitro amplification procedures and then subcloned into cosmids or into viral vectors. The resulting constructs can be introduced into immortalized cells that, when transformed by a vector containing a determinant, exhibit a quiescent or senescent state.

As indicated, an evaluation of the capacity of normal cells to complement the abnormal proliferation of immortalized cells has identified four complementation groups as relevant to the control of quiescence and senescence. These four genes or gene pathways are likely part of a genetic program, the end point of which includes the overexpression of negative growth regulatory genes (such as the Cdk inhibitors p21 and pl6) which have been found to be overexpressed in senescent cells. The determinant of group B is on chromosome 4. The determinants of group C are on chromosome 1. The gene sequences that comprise these determinants are isolated using the above-described methods. Similarly, the gene sequences that comprise the determinants of complementation groups A and D may be determined readily.

m. Therapeutic Utility The molecules of the present invention may be used to control or suppress undesired or uncontrolled cellular proliferation. As used herein, cellular proliferation is said to be "undesired" when it comprises growth that for medical or cosmetic reasons is not wanted by a patient. Examples of such undesired growth include warts, moles, psoriasis lesions, etc. The regeneration of tissue incident to injury or trauma can comprise yet another example of undesired growth. For example, in patients who are to receive multiple surgical operations, the formation of "scar" tissue incident to the first such operation may encumber subsequent operations. Similarly, where only limited medical facilities such that the complete treatment of the injury will be delayed, the immediate regeneration of damaged tissue may not be desired.

Growth is said to be uncontrolled where it leads to a medically significant proliferation of cells. Cancer, warts, molluscum contagiosum, etc. are examples of uncontrolled proliferation. As is evident, growth may be both uncontrolled and undesired.

As indicated above, the primary drugs presently used for treating AIDS patients are nucleotide analogues that affect the capacity of virally infected cells to replicate DNA. Similarly, nearly all chemotherapeutic anti-cancer agents currently in use interfere with DNA synthesis, or with the cellular ability to produce the precursors needed for DNA or RNA synthesis.

Although the available anti-AIDS chemotherapies may slow the onset of the disease, such therapies have been unable to halt the fatal progress of the disease.

Similarly, chemotherapeutic antineoplastic agents have had only limited success in treating cancer. In many cancerous tumors, only a fractional sub-population of the tumor cells is actively dividing (Boyd, M.R., In: Current Therapy in Oncology, (Niederhuber, J.E., Ed.), B.C. Decker, pp. 11-22 (1993)). The size of this subpopulation is inversely proportional to the size of the tumor. Hence, for large tumors, chemotherapeutic measures may have only very limited effectiveness. Many tissues and organs (such as bone marrow, precursors of gametes, hair follicles, and the epithelium lining the intestinal tract and the skin) have growth rates that exceed those of tumors. Hence, such tissue is adversely affected by conventional chemotherapy, and limits the dosage of the chemotherapeutic agent, and extent to which chemotherapy may be applied.

The genetic determinants of the present invention have therapeutic utility in the treatment of diseases such as AIDS and cancer. As a preferred initial step in such treatment, a cancerous, or virally infected cell of a patient is evaluated to determine which of the (four complementation group) determinants of cellular proliferation is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of the cell, or its capacity to support viral infection. In the case of T-cells and B-cells, any of the four determinants potentially work, however all of three B-cell types and two T-cell types tested were assignable to complementation group D, suggesting that a lesion in complementation group D may be preferentially responsible for abnormal T-cell or B-cell development. For cancer cells, such evaluation is accomplished by monitoring any of the characteristic features of attributes of such cells: cell surface antigens, immortality, absence of contact inhibition, antisense repression, hyperploidy, the capacity of the cells to exhibit the characteristics of aging cells, etc. For virally-infected cells, such evaluation can additionally include monitoring the capacity of the cell for its capacity to replicate the virus. After the particular complementation group has been established, then the molecules of the present invention may be administered to comprise a genetic therapy. The general principles of gene therapy have been discussed by Oldham, R.K., Principles of Biotherapy, Raven Press, NY, (1987); Boggs, S.S. Int. J. Cell Clon. 8:80-96 (1990); and Karson, E.M. (Biol Reprod. 42:39-49 (1990); all of which references are incorporated by reference herein. Such gene therapy is provided to a recipient in order to treat (i.e. suppress, or attenuate) an existing condition, or to provide a prophylactic therapy to individuals who, due to inherited genetic mutations, somatic cell mutation, or behavioral or environmental factors are at enhanced risk. In a preferred embodiment, such therapy comprises providing an effective amount of either a single-stranded or a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule (DNA or RNA) to an individual. By controlling the concentration and/or expression of such gene sequences, it is possible to direct selectively either a transient alteration or a permanent alteration of the proliferative state of the recipient cell.

Thus, the gene sequences may be incorporated into a viral, retroviral or plasmid vector, which may either be capable of autonomous propagation within the recipient cell, or incapable of such propagation (as by being replication deficient). In yet another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences (either alone or incorporated into a vector) may be designed to integrate into chromosome of the genome of recipient cell, thereby permitting its "passive" maintenance in the progeny of that cell.

Typically, suitable plasmid vectors are designed to include a prokaryotic replicon and selectable marker, such that the propagation of the vector in bacterial cells is readily accomplished. Plasmid vectors using papovirus replicons ultimately kill their host cells, and thus are most suitable therapies involving transient expression. SV40-based vectors that may be used include pMSG (Pharmacia), pSVT7, pMT2 (Kaufman, R.J., Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods, Vol. 9.

In contrast, plasmid vectors that employ the replicons of Epstein- Barr or bovine papilloma viruses do not generally cause cell death, and are thus suitable for long term propagation. Examples of such vectors include the BPV-1, pBV-lMTHA, pHEBo, p205 indicated above.

The gene therapy of the present invention can be accomplished using viral or retroviral vectors. Examples of suitable vectors are discussed by Fletcher, F.A. et al, J. Exper. Med. 174:837-845 (1991);

Makela, T.P. et al, Gene 118:293-294 (1992); Porgador, A. et al, Cane. Res. 52:3679-3686 (1992); Yoshimura, K. et al, Nucl. Acids Res. 20:3233- 3240 (1992); Lim, B. et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 86:8892-8896 (1989); Ohi, S. et al, Gene 89:279-282 (1990); and Russel, S.J. et al, J. Virol. 66:2821-2828 (1992).

Adenoviruses, especially modified adenoviruses, are a preferred viral vector for delivering the therapeutic gene sequences of the present invention in order to treat cancer. The human adenoviruses, particularly types 2, 5, and 12, have been characterized most extensively, and these viruses have served as valuable tools in the study of the molecular biology of DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, and protein synthesis in mammalian cells. The biology of adenoviruses is reviewed by Graham, F.L. et al, Methods in Molecular Biology: Gene Transfer and Expression Protocols (1991), Vol. 7, Chap. 11, pp. 109-128, incorporated by reference herein.

Adenoviruses have several salient advantages over other gene therapy vectors. The viral particle is relatively stable, and, in the case of serotypes commonly used as vectors to date, the viral genome does not undergo rearrangement at a high rate. Insertions of foreign genes are generally maintained without change through successive rounds of viral replication. The adenovirus genome is also relatively easy to manipulate by recombinant DNA techniques, and the virus replicates efficiently in permissive 293 host cells. Unlike retroviral vectors, adenoviral vectors do not require host cell replication in order to achieve high-level expression. Thus, they are particularly suitable for prophylactic gene therapy. In a preferred sub-embodiment, the adenoviral vector is modified so as to render it incapable of replicating, such as by deleting a critical gene in the El region of the viral genome. Such vectors can only be propagated in cell lines such as the permissive 293 host cell line, which provides the necessary Ela and Elb gene products in trans (See Graham, F.L. et al. above). Whereas wild-type Ad5 (containing El genes, and competent for viral replication in cells) can be cytopathic within 6 to 48 hours, the deletion of the El genes precludes cytopathy. Replication- deficient adenovirus have a finite lifespan (several weeks or more) before being degraded by host nucleases. Thus, such vectors are used to accomplish transient therapy.

The replication-deficient adenoviral vectors currently utilized for in vivo gene transfer are derived largely from adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5). Replication-deficit adenoviral vectors have been used to mediate in vivo gene transfer into bronchial epithelium (See Rosenfeld, M.A. et al, Cell 68:143-155 (1992)) and skeletal muscle (See Quantin, B. et al, Proc. Natl.

Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 89:2581-2584 (1992)).

The nucleic acids of the present invention can be introduced into target cells by various techniques known in the art: fusion of recipient cells with bacterial spheroblasts, liposomes, erythrocyte-membrane vesicles, whole-cell fusion, through uptake of DNA complexed with non- histone nuclear proteins or with poly lysine-carrying receptor ligands, by microinjection or targeting with microprojectiles, or by the use of transducing viruses.

In a preferred embodiment for treating cancer, the introduced molecules are preferentially expressed in tumor cells. In one embodiment, the vector contains appropriate transcriptional or translational regulatory elements, such that the proliferation determinants are preferentially expressed in tumor cells. Thus, whereas any suitable mammalian promoter may be employed to mediate expression, it is preferable in the treatment of cancer to employ tumor-specific promoters (i.e. promoters that are more active in tumor cells than in non-tumor cells). A promoter is said to be operably linked to a gene sequence if it controls or mediates the transcription or translation of the gene sequence or a subsequence thereof.

Preferred examples of such promoters include the native promoter naturally associated with a gene of a complementation group, the α- fetoprotein promoter, the amylase promoter (especially, the murine amylase promoter), the cathepsin E promoter, the Ml muscarinic receptor promoter, the γ-glutamyl transferase promoter, etc., and especially, the CMV promoter. Suitable α-fetoprotein promoter sequences are present in the vectors PSVA F0.4 CAT and PAF 5.1 (cΩ-CAT) (Watanabe et al., J.

Biol Chem. 262:4812-4818 (1987)). The PSVA F0.4 CAT^A vector contains 5 kb of flanking DNA with a deletion of approximately 2 kb between -1.0 and -3.0. The PAF 5.1 (32-CAT) vector encompasses approximately 400 base pairs of the a-fetoprotein 5' flanking sequence which lies between -3.7 kb and -3.3 kb, coupled to the SV40 promoter in the PSC1 CAT vector.

Suitable amylase promoters, especially murine amylase promoter sequences are described by Wu et al, Molec. Cell. Biol. 11:4423-4430 (1991). Suitable cathepsin E promoter sequences are described by Azuma et al, J. Biol. Chem., 267:1609-1614 (1992). Suitable Ml muscarinic receptor promoter sequences are described by Fraser et al, Molec.

Pharmacol. 36:840-847 (1989) and by Bonner, Trends Neurosci. 12:148- 151 (1989). Vectors containing suitable γ-glutamyl transferase promoter sequences are described by Rajagopalan, S. et al, J. Biol. Chem. 265:11721-11725 (1990). Suitable CMV promoter sequences are obtained from the CMV-promoted β-galactosidase expression vector, CMBβ (See

MacGregor, G.R. et al, Nucleic Acids Res. 17:2365 (1989)). In a second embodiment, the vector is engineered to array receptors or ligands for an antigen present on the tumor cell that is the recipient of the vector. Such markers are discussed by Drebin, J.A. et al, Current Therapy in Oncology, pp. 58-61 (1993). As a consequence of such array, the vectors preferentially adsorb to tumor cells, and thereby impart selectively their therapeutic value.

For the treatment of AIDS, lymphotrophic viral vectors are preferred. In one embodiment, such vectors are produced by modifying an existing lymphotrophic virus (HIV, SIV, EB, etc.). Alternatively, such vectors can comprise non-lymphotrophic viruses that have been modified to permit them to adsorb to and infect CD4+ cells. For example, synthetic viral vectors are formed that array the HIV gp 120 protein that is capable of binding to the CD4 receptor.

For the treatment of psoriasis, warts, moles, and other skin conditions of undesired or uncontrolled cellular proliferation, dermatrophic viral vectors, such as herpes viral vectors, etc., are employed to deliver the therapeutic gene sequences of the present invention.

As indicated above, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises vectors that are capable of expressing the incorporated proliferation determinant. In an alternative embodiment, the desired gene therapy is mediated in the absence of expression, most preferably via recombination. As is appreciated, the recipient cells possess a mutated allele of the introduced determinant, and indeed, it is the presence of such a mutated allele that is responsible for the disease that is to be treated. The introduction of a normal allele of the determinant into such cells permits the introduced gene sequence to recombine with the chromosomal allele to thereby accomplish the "repair" or "replacement" of the mutated sequence. Since such repair or replacement converts a proliferating cell into a quiescent cell, such therapy will have a cumulative effect, even if it occurs at low frequency. Indeed, if such methods were used in concert with conventional methods, even very low frequency recombinational events could have significant therapeutic benefit. For example, anaplastic cancer of the thyroid is essentially incurable; such cells fail to take up the radioactive iodine isotopes that comprise a therapy for other forms of thyroid cancer.

Even if the therapeutic molecules of the present invention provide only a very low level recombinational repair of the proliferative state of such cells, any incorporation of iodine by such cells would lead to the death of adjacent, non-iodine-incorporating cells.

IV. Diagnostic Utility

Apart from their therapeutic utility, the molecules of the present invention are used to diagnose the predisposition of an individual to cancer, and to determine which of the four complementation group pathways has been altered. Such information is correlated against the accumulated data of amenability of such tumors, or their refractiveness, with respect to a particular chemotherapeutic agent or regime.

Moreover, the identification of the gene sequences of the determinants of cellular proliferation permits the development of determinant-specific probes that are used (in conjunction with an amplification procedure, such as PCR) to assess whether an individual carries a mutation in one of the determinants. The capacity to evaluate the presence of such mutations provides an extremely sensitive method for diagnosing cancer. As such, the method is employed at an extremely early stage, and thereby provide the physician with greater flexibility in treating the cancer.

V. The Analogs of the Molecules of the Present Invention and Their Uses

The present invention contemplates the use of any of a variety of chemical agents to either inhibit or enable DNA synthesis. Such agents may be: (1) a nucleic acid molecule, (2) a protein, or (3) a compound whose structure mimics that of either a nucleic acid molecule or a protein (i.e. a "peptidomimetic" agent).

As indicated above, in the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the agents of the present invention comprises nucleic acid molecules. In particular, such molecules include the naturally occurring gene sequences of the determinants of cellular proliferation that have been purified from their natural contaminants. In a preferred sub- embodiment, the sequence of the molecules are selected so as to be superior to such natural gene sequences. To obtain such superior sequences, the naturally occurring sequences are mutagenized, either by random mutagenic means, or by site-directed mutagenic protocols. The mutated species of molecules are then introduced into transformed, immortal or cancer cells, and the kinetics of growth inhibition is determined. Molecules that exhibit increased velocity or efficiency in inhibiting cellular proliferation are identified and recovered. Such molecules provide a non-naturally occurring therapeutic gene sequence.

In an alternative embodiment, the gene sequences of the present invention are used to express encoded gene products that can then be delivered to cancerous or transformed cells via electroporation, liposome mediated fusion, pseudoviral incorporation, etc. The gene products produced by the above-described non-naturally occurring therapeutic gene sequences can alternatively be used for this purpose.

In yet a third embodiment, the invention uses a compound whose structure mimics that of either a nucleic acid molecule or a protein (i.e. a

"peptidomimetic" agent). Such structural similarity is determined via binding studies, by crystallographic means, etc.

In addition to use in expressing proteins and polypeptides and in defining desirable analogs, the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are used to produce antisense nucleic acid molecules capable of binding to an endogenous sequence and inhibiting its activity, etc. A particularly preferred such agent is an antisense oligonucleotide.

In general, an "antisense oligonucleotide" is a nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) whose sequence is complementary to the sequence of a target mRNA molecule (or its corresponding gene) such that it is capable of binding to, or hybridizing with, the mRNA molecule (or the gene), and thereby impairing (i.e. attenuating or preventing) the translation of the mRNA molecule into a gene product. To act as an antisense oligonucleotide, the nucleic acid molecule must be capable of binding to or hybridizing with that portion of target mRNA. Antisense oligonucleotides are disclosed in European Patent Application Publication Nos. 263,740; 335,451; and 329,882, and in PCT Publication No. WO90/00624, all of which references are incorporated by reference herein. Preferably, the antisense oligonucleotide is about 10-30 nucleotides in length, most preferably, about 15-24 nucleotides in length.

Any means known in the art to synthesize the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention may be used. Automated nucleic acid synthesizers may be employed for this purpose. In addition, desired nucleotides of any sequence are obtained from any commercial supplier of such custom molecules.

Having now generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood through reference to the following examples which are provided by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention, unless specified. EXAMPLE 1

FORMATION OF A HYBRID CONTAINING A FRAGMENT OF CHROMOSOME 4 CARRYING THE SENESCENCE INDUCING GENE(S) IN A9 CELLS

A normal human chromosome 4 was found to be capable of inducing senescence in three immortal human cell lines assigned to complementation group B. The effect was specific because no effect on the proliferative potential of cell lines assigned to the other groups was observed and a normal human chromosome 11 had no effect on the division potential of any of the immortal cell lines assigned to the four complementation groups.

To characterize further this genetic determinant of cellular proliferation, a hybrid containing a fragment of chromosome 4 was isolated that carried the senescence inducing gene(s) of complementation group B. The fragment contained <800 kB and was cloned into the A9 mouse cell background. The region covered by the fragment spans a putative deletion that is present only in cells assigned to complementation group B and not in other cell lines.

The hybrid was isolated as follows: HT1080, a fibrosarcoma- derived immortal cell line, assigned to group A, was used as a recipient in the initial chromosome 4 study. One of five microcell hybrid clones contained an intact chromosome 4 and did not lose division potential. Of the others, one was found to have retained a fragment of a human chromosome by cytogenetic analysis. This fragment was confirmed to be a fragment of chromosome 4 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes specific for the centromere of chromosome 4. This hybrid was used as a microcell donor to introduce the fragment of chromosome 4 into mouse A9 cells. Since the microcell donor chromosome 4 carried the neomycin (neo) resistance gene, G418 selection was used and a microcell hybrid obtained. This hybrid was capable of inducing senescence when introduced into HeLa and T98G (group B) but not when introduced into TE85 (group C) cells. A PCR based analysis was performed in order to determine the presence or absence of chromosome 4 specific polymorphic markers in the A9+ fragment of the cell line. This analysis revealed that the hybrid (designated as A9 + M59) was positive for the marker D4S174/Mfd59.

Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA that had been isolated from the A9 + M59 cell line and probed with total human genomic DNA revealed that <800 kb of human DNA was present. In order to determine what region of chromosome 4 was present in the hybrid which was G418 resistant, a FISH analysis was performed for the neo gene on the cell line HA(4)A: A9 + intact chromosome 4. This analysis revealed that the neo gene was localized to the q arm of chromosome 4, and thus that the cell senescence gene was carried on the q arm of chromosome 4. The markers Mfd59 and neo could be used to identify the gene.

EXAMPLE 2

DETECTION OF A DELETION IN GROUP B CELL LINES

PCR products were generated from the A9 + M59 cell line using four distinct primer sets for repetitive sequences Alu and Line. The primers used were LIV (also designated PD334), 517, TC65 (also designated 559), and Line 1 (also designated LIHs). These primers are available from the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD,

USA) under the respective accession numbers: ATCC 73049, ATCC 53050, ATCC 73051 and ATCC 73052. Each of the PCR amplification procedures employs only one of the above primers (i.e. both primers in the PCR are the same), and thus result in the amplification of sequences that are bracketed by a primer binding site. The PCR products were used to probe DNA from different normal and immortal cell lines by PFGE.

When the Line 1 PCR product was used as the probe for genomic DNA digested with the enzyme EagI, a single 1000 kb band was identified in normal human cells and in immortal human cell lines assigned to groups A, C, D (eight cell lines tested). In the case of three immortal cell lines assigned to group B, however, lower molecular weight bands were observed indicating that deletions had occurred in the region detected by the Line 1 probe. The fact that only the three immortal human cell lines assigned to group B exhibited different band patterns, as distinct from the eight other normal and immortal human cell lines, suggests that the different banding pattern is not due to a polymorphism, but reflects a deletion of gene sequences of the determinant of cellular proliferation. It is not a surprising possibility that this region could have been deleted in all the chromosomes 4 present in the cells, making them homozygous at this locus, as these cell lines have been in culture for many years. Therefore, deletions in this region would have allowed for growth advantage over cells in which gene conversion events had restored this region. These data demonstrate that a deleted region exists and carries the putative senescence related gene.

When the LIV primer was used as a probe, a band of approximately 500 kb was identified when the DNA of the A9 + M59 cell line was cut with the enzyme Sail and analyzed by PFGE. This band was also recognized by the neo probe. The Line 1 and LIV PCR product has been cloned into the pTZ19R vector, and sequenced. Twenty-mer oligonucleotides derived from such sequence data may be used as PCR primers to identify and clone the gene sequence responsible for proliferation of group B complementing immortalized clones. Indeed, 6 YACs have been obtained that are positive for the LI primer and 3 YACs have been obtained that are positive for the LTV primer and Mfd59. We used the largest non-chimeric YAC insert in each group in FISH analysis and determined that they mapped to two distinct regions of chromosome 4, both on the q arm: 4q 26-28 and 4q 33-34.1. Therefore, a recombination event occurred in the generation of the cell line to bring the two regions together.

The TC65 primer yielded 3 PCR products, one of which was capable of detecting the putative deletion in the Group B cell lines.

EXAMPLE 3

ABILITY OF A CHROMOSOME 4 FRAGMENT TO SUPPRESS TUMOR FORMATION IN MICE

The ability of the Group B-complementing, chromosome 4 fragment of Example 1 to prevent tumor formation in living animals was evaluated. For this evaluation, five different Group B-complementing tumor cell lines were selected and introduced into nude mice (10^s, 10⁶, or 10⁷ cells/mouse). Of the five lines selected, two were found to be more tumorigenic when introduced into the nude mice. These two lines were a lung carcinoma cell line (UAB MLi019) and a colon carcinoma cell line (UAB C023), and were identified as Group B on the basis of the L, probe detection of a putative deletion by PFGE. Both cell lines may be obtained from the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD, US. It was found that 10⁶ cells was sufficient to induce tumors in the mice.

Animals were thus injected with either 10^β tumor cells, or with 10⁶ microcell fusions of the tumor cell and the above-described microcells (M59) containing the <800 kb fragment of human chromosome 4. Animals were evaluated for approximately two weeks. The incidence of tumors (N/T - number of animals exhibiting tumors per total number of animals evaluated) and their volume (V) (calculated assuming a spheroidal mass) are shown in Table 1.

The Experiment demonstrates that the presence of the M59-borne chromosome 4 fragment resulted in substantial protection from tumor formation. Moreover, the average size of the tumors, and their rate of growth were substantially impaired by the chromosome 4 fragment. Indeed, in one instance, an animal receiving the MLi019+M59 tumor cell/microcell fusion scored as having a tumor at day 21 did not exhibit the tumor at day 28, thus indicating that the tumor had undergone regression.

EXAMPLE 4 IDENTIFICATION OF COSMIDS ENCODING GENOMIC DNA WITH THE GROUP B COMPLEMENTING ABILITY

A cosmid library was constructed from the DNA of the A9+M59 cell line. The library was plated and screened with Alu PCR probes generated using primers TC65 and 517. Two hundred positive cosmids were arrayed and screened with human Cot-1 DNA, Alu PCR probes from A9+M59, and mouse A9 DNA. Cosmids that gave the strongest positive signal with human probes were identified. Nine of these cosmids were randomly selected and transfected into HeLa cells. Following stable integration and selection in G418, one cosmid F8 clearly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells. This cosmid was then transfected along with one that had no effect on growth, into HeLa, T98G (Group B), EJ (Group A) CMV-MJ-Hel I

(Group C) and A16980^RTG^R (Group D). Only HeLa and T98G were growth inhibited by the F8 cosmid indicating that the Group B complementation gene(s) was present in F8. The F8 cosmid was used as a probe to identified other F8 positive cosmids. Three of these (C4, H9, H10) when transfected into HeLa cells had the same activity as F8. C4 overlapped with F8 by approximately 15 kb and H9 overlapped by 8kb. H10 and F8 had almost the same genomic DNA insert. A portion of the 8kb of DNA has been sequenced. Part of the gene of interest lies within this DNA sequence. While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as follows in the scope of the appended claims.

SEQ ID l: 1254 BASES

AAGAAATCCACCTGTCTTTCAAGTGCTGGGATAAAAGGTATTTGCCGGGC TGGAGATTTGGCGCACCAGTGAAGTGCACTGACAGCTCTTCCAGGTCCTG AGTTCTAGTCCCAGCAACCACATGTTGGTTCATAACCATCTGTAATAGGA TCTGATGCCCTCATCTGGTGTATCTGAAGACAGCTAGTGTATTAACATGG AATAAACAAATTTAAAAAGAAGGTATTTGCCACCACCGCCCTGGGTATTG TAAGATTTTTAAAGTTATTAGGGTGTTGGTATTTAATCTATGAAGGAGGT CAACAGAAGCGTTCAGTCCCTTGGTGTTTGAACCACCATGTGGCCTCTGC CTCCCAAGTGCTGGGATTAAAGTCGTGTGCCACCATGGCCGGCCTAAATC TTTTTTTAAAGATTATTTATTTCACGTATGAATACACTGTTGCTGTCTTT AGACAACACCAGAAGAGGGCATCAGATCCCGTTAAAGATGGCTGTGAGCC ACCATGTGGTTGCTGGGAATTGAACTCTGGACCTCTGGAAGAGCTACCAG TGCTCTTAACTACTGAGCCATCTCTTCAGCCCTGAACTTAAATCTTATAA GAGGAACAAATTCTTTGTTCTAAAATGGCAATTTAAGGTTTAAACTTAAT TTTGCAAAGTGTATATTTGCATGTATATGAATGCTCAAGGCAGTTGTCAC ATTCCCCTAGAGATAAGGTCATTTAAGATCAATCAAACTGGGTTCTCTGG CAAGTTATTATCTGCTTTCACTCTGCTGTGTCTAGCCCTGAAGTGGAATT TTCTGTAAAACATACCAGGTAATTATCACCTAGTTGTACTGAGGACATTA TATAGTAATGGTGAAAAGAAGCTGAAGTGAGCATGGTGGCACTAACTTTT AATCCTAGCACCTAGCAGAGGCAAGCAGATCTGAGTTCATGAGTTCCAGG CCAGCCAAGGCTGTAGTAAGACTTGTCACACACAAAAAAATTTCCCTAGG TTATGTGATAACAGCTAAAGGTCTTGGATGGAGTATTGACCTGAATGTTC CCAAGTGGGTCTAGTCAGGTGTGTTAACGATTGGCCTGGAGAAGTGAGTC AGACATTGTAGTGCTGGTCTTGTAATTGACATACTGTGCCTCAGTGCCAC TTGTCCAGATGGCCCAGTAAGTAAGTCTAACCCTAGCATGTTCCTCCACT AAGGATTCAATGTTTACGTAGCCATTTCATTAAAATTGATACTGAACTGG TCCT

SEQ ID #2: 4580 BASES

GAAAGTACTAGGCCTGAGTGTATATACTAACCACTTGTAACTCAAAGCTT TAAGGGGAGTCAACAGCAGGCACCTGCAACTCAAATGCCCATACTTCCAG ATGGGCAGTCCTGGCAAGCAATACTCTCCCAGAAGAGGACATCACTGGGC CACATGGCACGTTTAGTAATGAAGGCTGCAGTGCCCCCAAGAGGTTGTAG ATGGTTAAGCAATTGCTGTTCTTAGCCAAGGGTCCCACCACAGTTGAAAT TAAACCACAACACCCACTGAATTATACCAAGCAAAAGGTCTCAACCACTC CACAGATTACCCACATTCTGTAAAGCCTCCCCACAATTTTCCTTTACTTC ACCCAAGTTGTCCTTGTTCCTAAGGCCACTGCACCTACTTAGGTGTTTCC TCTCCTAATTTTTTTCCCCACAGAGTGTACCTTGTAACCCAGGCTGACCT TGAACCTCCTTATGCCTCAGTGTTGTGTAGGACTGTTTTACAAGCCACAC TGCCACCATCTTCATCAAATCAGCTGGGCCAGCTTGCAAAAGTAACAGGG CCTGTTGACTATTGGTATTGTTTTGTAGGAGAGGCAGGCAGGGTCATGGG ACCTCAACTGATATCCAGCCAGTTCTCCCAACTTTCTCATAACTGTATAT AGTCTCCAGGAGGGGCTAGAGAAAATAGGCAAAAAAGAACTAGGAGAAGC AGGCTTTAGTGACCACAGGGAAGACGTCATCCATGCTGGGTACAGACTTT ACAGTGTCATTGCTTTAGCGGTCACCCACGCTTCTGCTCATAACCCCTCA CATATGATCTGTAAGTAAGCCCAGTAAACTTACTCATTTCAGTGAGCAAA CTTTGGTGGACTCAAGCCAACATTTGTCCTTGGACCTTAGGAGGAGGGGG AGATGTGGTTTCCGTTTCCCCAAGGGAAGGGATTTTAGCAACATTGAGTT TCCAGGTGTTAAGAGTCCTTTCTTTATTTTAGTGGCTTAACATTGGGTAG TCACCCATGGTGACAATGACACTTGTAGCTTTAGGTGGTTCAGGTGCTAA GGGAAGTGGTGCAAAAATAAAGAGCCTCAGAGGATGGAGCCAGGGACCAG GTGATGGGAGAGAACTTGGGTGTAGATCAACAGGAGACCTCACTTTCAAA AGGGGCCAAATGTTTGGTGTGGAGCAGGGCCTAGACACTGGTTTTCTGTA GTGGCTTGGAATGGGACCCAGGACCTTAAACAGCTGAGAGTTTGAAAATT TAGGGAATTGATTGATTGACTGATTGATCCTGCAGCTGGCACTGGAAATT CTGAGTGAACACCGGGTACACTGAAGAATGATGATCTCAGACTAAGGCCC AGAGTGTAGAGCACTAACTAGTAGTAAAGCCATGAGGCACAGGGTTCTAT CTCTTGCACAGCATAAGTGGGCCCCGTGGTGCAGGCCTGCAGTTCCAGAG AGGGAGCTGAAGGCTGGAGGTTTGAGGACAACTGGACCACACTAGACCCT ATATCATCACTAATGACTTATTGAGACTGTCTTTTGTCCAAAGTATGTGA AATTAACATTTTCTCCCAGTAGGGTTCATTTTGTGGTTGTTCAACCAAAG CTTTGTTGAGCTGCTACTCAGAGGCTGCTCCAGTAGAGGAAAATCAAAAC ATAGAGACCCAAATCTGCTATGTGATGGTGTTTGAAGCTCCTGTCTCTGT TCTCATCAATACAGCTGGTCTGTTGGAGATGTGCCTTGCAAACATCAATG CCCAGAAAAATTAAGGTGTTACCTCTTTCCTGTGACTTCCTGGAGGTGGA AACTCAAGCTGACTTTTTCCCTCATTACTCTTCTTTCTCCTCTGTGTTAA GGACATGAATTTTGGTAGGAGGTGAAGATTAGGGTATACCTGTCTCCCCT TAGAGATCATAGAAAACCATGGCTCAGGCCAGGGGAGGGGTACACTAAGC TCAGCACTGAAGAGGTAGAAAGGAGGGCCATCAGTTTACACCATCTGGGC TACAAAATGAGGTCCTGTCTCAAATACCTAAACCATCAAAACAAAAGATT CGGATGAGCCAGGCACAGTGGCACACATCCTTAAAATCTGTGATCTCTGT GAATTTCAGGCCAGCCTACTCCACATAGCAAGTTCCAGGTCAGCTAGGAC TATATAGTGAGAACTTGTTTAAATAAGTAGTGGGAGAGAAGGGCTGGAGA ACCAGCTCAGCAGTTGAAACTCATTTCCTGCTCGTTTCTAGGACTCAAGT TCAGTTCCTAGCACCCACCTCAATGGCTCACAATGTCTTGTAACATGAGC TCCAAGAGATCCAACTCTCTTCTGAACTCCATAAGCACTGCACTTAGGGC ATAAAACACACACACACACACACACACACACACACACTTTAAAATCATAA AAAGTAGCAAGGTATTTGGCTGCACGCCTTTAATCCCAGCACTCAAGAGG CAGAGGCAGGAGGATCTCTGTAACTTAGAGGCCAGCATGGTCTACATGGC AAGTTCCAGAGCAGCCAGGACTACATAGGTCCTATCTCATAAAAAGAAAG AAAATAAATCTTTTAACAAATGTGCAGAAGAGGACTGGTGAGATGGCTCA GCTGCTAAGCAAGTCTGGTGATCCAATTTTTTTCCCCCTGACATCATGTA AAGGTGAGAGGACAGAACACTATAAAGTTGACCCCTGACTTTTACACGTA CACTGTGGCAAGCACCCCCCCACACACACACACATATCATGTATACACAC AATGTATTTTAAATGTGCTGCTTTGTGACACAGAAAAGGAGGGGACCACT GGGTGCATCTGCAGAATCTAGCCTCTATAGAGCCTACATGACAGTCTGAC TTCATTGTGTGTGACTGCCTCTCAATAGTTCCCATCTGAGTTTCCCTCCC TGCTGCTTTTGGGGGTTTCTAAGGAACTTTCACTTGTCATTCTGCCAGCT GATTTCCCAGCACAGTAACTGGCTTCATTAGTACTGAGTTATGTTTCTAG TACCAGGCACGGTTTTCCTCTTCTCAGCAGGTCTTTTTTTTTTTAAGATT TATTTATTATTATAAATAAGTACACTATAGCTGTCTTCAGATGCACCAGA AGAGGGTGTCAGATCTCATTATGGATGGTTGTGAGCCACCACGTGGTTGC TGGGATTTGAACTCAGGACCTTCTGAAGAGCAGTCAGTGCTCTTACCCGC TGAGCCATCTCACCAGCCCTCAGCAGATCTTAAGTACAGTTAGAGAGCAG TGGGTTACTGTCAAGATATATGTGCCACTACTGCACCTTTATGGGGTCCT TGGCCACCGGCCCACGAGGACAAATGGAGCAGAGTAGACAAAGAGGGTTT CAGAGTGCCTGTAAATACGATCAGAAATGACAGCATTCTAGGATTAGCTT TTGGAAGAGAGATGGACTTTATTGGGGTGAATCTAGGGTTATATAGTTTT GGGGGAGGAGATAGCAATATTCAAAGGTCATTGGCTGAAGGCCAAAGTCC TGAGATACCTCATTAGCATGGGGAGGCATTCCAGAAATCTCAGGTACTGG CTGCAAGGGTTTCTATGGGATGGGGGGAGCTACACCTGTAATCTAACCAA GGCTACATGATACTCCGAAGGTAAAGGCTGTGGGAGCTCTGAGCTCCCCA 31a

GACAAGGTCAGAGAAGGAGAAGCCCTGCTGAAAAAGGGAGTCCACCATTT TTTTCCCCCGAGCTCTGGCTTTCCGGTAATGTCAGACTTAGACCTTTGCA GCAGGTTGACCCAATACTCATACAGTTACTTTGCCATGATAAGTCATCGC TGTGGTTCATGGGCATCATAGCTGGGCAGAACTGTTGGTTGCTGCCCTCT TTTGGAAGCTTCTGTCATCTCCTGGAACCATAAAAGCTAGTCTTCATGGA GGAGACATTCAGGTCCGTTCCACCTCAGGGGTCTCTGGGTCTTATTTCTG AAGTGTGCGGTGCCTTCAGCAGTAGGTAGGGCATTAGTTTTCATTTCTGG GGAACAACCAAGAACAACAGCAATAAAAACAGCTATGTTTTTTTAGACCG CTCTGACCAACAACTCAAAAGAGGGTTTCTCATGTCTGGTATTGGGGGTT TTGTTAGATGGTCTTTGTGTTAGCATTTTTTCTAGGCTCTGCCCAACAGT TACCTAGCAACAGCCAGGTATAAGACTGGCTTGCTATAAAAGAACTGTTT GGCCTCTCTCACTTTCTCTGACCCCTCCTCTGACCTGCCCCTTTCCCCTC TCTGCCCGCCCCCCTTTCTCATTTGCTCTCTCTTTCTTTCTCTGTCCTCT CTCTTTCTCTGACTCTACTCCCTTCTCAACCCTCCTTCTCATGCCCCCAA ATAAACGTTATTTTATATTAGATCCATCGTATGGCTGGTTCTTCATGGGG TGATACCTCAGCCTGAGCCTCCTAGGGCTCCCCCCTCCTGCCGCATCATA CTGTGTTTTACAAAACATATCACTTTGGCTTTTAGGAGGAGTACATTAGC CCAGGTGAGAAAAGTTCATTAACACTATATATGTTGCCAGGCGTGGTGGT GCACGCCTTTAGTCCTAGCACTTGGGAGGC

SEQ ID #3: 218 BA8ES

ATTGAATTTTTAACCGGGCAGTGGTGGCACACACCTTTAATCCCAGCAAT TGGGAGGCAGAGGCAGGCATATTTTGAGTTTGAGGCCAGCCTGGTTTACA GAGTGAGTTTCAGGACAGTCAGGGATATACAGAGAAACCCTGTTTCAGAC AAAAAAAAGATTTTTTTTTGGAGTGGAGAGCAGGATATAAATGCTGTGAT AGAGGAAATGGGAAAGGA

Claims

-32- WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence substantially identical to a fragment of human chromosome 4, wherein said fragment is capable of inhibiting undesired or uncontrolled proliferation of a cell of an animal.

2. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said fragment of human chromosome 4 is located at 4q 26-28.

3. The nucleic acid of claim 1, whrein said fragment of human chromosome 4 is located at 4q 33-34.1.

4. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said fragment of human chromosome 4 is SEQ ID 1, SEQ ID 2, SEQ ID 3 or a fragment or fragments thereof.

5. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said cell is a hyperproliferative cell.

6. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 5, wherein said hyperproliferative cell is a virally-infected cell.

7. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 6, wherein said virally- infected cell is infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

8. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 5, wherein said hyperproliferative cell is a cancerous cell.

9. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 8, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group A complementation group. -33-

10. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 8, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group B complementation group.

11. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 8, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group C complementation group.

12. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 8, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group D complementation group.

13. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said molecule additionally contains a tumor specific promoter, said promoter being operably linked to said chromosomal fragment, and capable of mediating the preferential expression of said chromosomal fragment in a tumor cell.

14. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said molecule additionally contains a native promoter, said promoter being operably linked to said chromosomal fragment, and capable of mediating the preferential expression of said chromosomal fragment in a cell.

15. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said molecule has been inserted into a non-viral vector.

16. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said molecule has been inserted into a viral vector, said vector being encapsulated in a viral coat.

17. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 16, wherein said viral vector is an adenovirus, and wherein said viral coat is an adenoviral coat.

18. A protein, substantially free of its natural contaminants, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a -34- sequence substantially identical to a fragment from human chromosome 4, wherein said protein is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of a cell of a patient.

19. The protein of claim 18, wherein said cell is a cancerous cell.

20. The protein of claim 18, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group A complementation group.

21. The protein of claim 19, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group B complementation group.

22. The protein of claim 19, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group C complementation group.

23. The protein of claim 19, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group D complementation group.

24. The protein of claim 18, wherein said cell is a virally-infected cell.

25. The protein of claim 24, wherein said virally-infected cell is infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

26. A method for treating cancer in an individual which comprises providing to a cancerous cell of said individual an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment from human chromosome 4, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of said cell. -35-

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a complementation group A.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group complementation group B.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group complementation group C.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to a group complementation group D.

31. A method for treating viral infection in an individual which comprises providing to a virally-infected cell of said individual an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment of human chromosome 4, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of virus in said cell.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said virally-infected cell is a cell infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

33. A method for treating cancer in an individual which comprises providing to a cancerous cell in said individual an effective amount of a protein, substantially free of its natural contaminants, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment from human chromosome 4, and wherein said protein is capable of inhibiting the proliferation in said cell.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to complementation group A. -36-

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to complementation group B.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to complementation group C.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said cancerous cell belongs to complementation group D.

38. A method for treating viral infection in an individual which comprises providing to a virally-infected cell in said individual an effective amount of a protein, substantially free of its natural contaminants, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence substantially identical to a fragment from human chromosome 4, and wherein said protein is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of virus in said cell.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said virally-infected cell is a cell infected with human immunodeficiency virus.