METHOD AND RECOMBINANT CELLS FOR PROVIDING INCREASED RESISTANCE OF HEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITOR CELLS TO TOXICITY OF CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS

摘要

Methods and recombinant cells are provided for increasing the resistance of hematopoietic progenitor cells to the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic and other therapeutic agents used in treating solid tumors and other malignancies. Hematopoietic progenitor cells are obtained from suitable bone marrow donors. The cells are genetically altered by introduction, and stable incorporation into the genome, of at least one DNA segment encoding a protein capable of increasing intracellular glutathione production, thereby imparting to the cells the capability of producing increased amounts of intracellular glutathione. The genetically altered hematopoietic progenitor cells are introduced into a patient for whom chemotherapy has been prescribed. The patient may then be treated with dosages of chemotherapeutic agents that would be toxic to the patient's non-recombinant hematopoietic progenitor cells.