Retrovirus‐mediated Gene Transfer Targeted to Malignant Glioma Cells in Murine Brain

A murine model for meningeal metastasis of malignant glioma was developed to study selective gene transfer into tumor cells and to establish a reliable means of determining the rate of tumor cell infection. A murine ecotropic retroviral vector was created in which the Escherichia coliβ‐galactosidase gene served as a marker for gene expression from the integrated retrovirus. This retrovirus exhibited a high rate of infectivity in RSV‐M mouse glioma cells in vitro. The recombinant retrovirus was injected directly into the cisterna magna of the mice. Staining of β‐galactosidase showed that the rate of gene integration was high in the disseminated glioma cells. These results suggest the possibility of retrovirus‐mediated gene therapy for meningeal dissemination of malignant glioma.