Background: Intratracheal injection of manganese superoxide dismutase-plasmid/liposome (MnSOD-PL) prior to single fraction or fractionated irradiation of C57BL/6J mouse lung has been demonstrated to protect the lung from irradiation-induced damage.
Materials and methods: To determine whether irradiation-induced inflammatory cytokine levels influenced the recovery of tumors following single fraction irradiation, mice with orthotopic Lewis Lung Carcinoma (3LL) tumors received MnSOD-PL treatment 24 hours after tumor implantation and 24 hours prior to irradiation. Subgroups were implanted with Alzet pumps continuously replacing levels of inflammatory cytokines over 7 days.
Results: In cytokine-treated mice, there was no detectable significant alteration in radiotherapy-mediated improved survival (tumor regrowth delay) compared to irradiated control mice. Each group of mice that received MnSOD-PL had increased survival compared to irradiated controls.
Conclusion: These results support the anticipated safety of intrapulmonary MnSOD-PL gene therapy in lung cancer patients for protection of normal lung tissue from irradiation while allowing effective irradiation-mediated tumor control.