Ad-AFpg-DN-PP2Acα

Ad-AFpg-DN-PP2Acα is a recombinant adenoviral gene therapy vector developed for the selective treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It utilizes a chimeric promoter system, combining the human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer with the phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk) promoter, to drive the expression of a dominant negative mutant of the protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit alpha (DN-PP2Acα). This design restricts the expression of the therapeutic protein to AFP-producing HCC cells, thereby reducing off-target effects on normal hepatocytes. The inhibition of PP2A by the dominant negative mutant disrupts cellular signaling, resulting in G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and the induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth in AFP-positive HCC cell lines and xenograft models.