A DNA plasmid useful for diagnostic and therapeutic gene therapy is disclosed. Improvements to gene therapy methods known in the art are provided to ensure cancer-targeting, high efficacy, and long durability of expression. The DNA plasmid is combined with compositions of polymeric nanoparticles for non-viral gene therapy to treat cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma and prostate cancer.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for a suicide gene approach comprising an expression vector comprising a cell cycle-dependent promoter driving the expression of a suicide gene. Also provided herein are methods to render proliferative cells sensitive to a prodrug after transplantation but avoids expression of the suicide gene in post-mitotic cells, such as neurons.

In some aspects the disclosure provides compositions and methods for promoting expression of functional Thymine Kinase 2 (TK2) protein in a subject. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of treating a subject having TK2 deficiency, for example a subject having mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.

Provided is a method for knocking in a gene of interest to a cell. The genome of the cell contains a negative selectable marker, e.g., a thymidine kinase gene flanked by a pair of recombinase recognition sites (RRS), e.g., attP. The method involves introducing into the cell a targeting construct that contains a gene of interest flanked by a second pair of RRS, e.g., attB. The targeting construct also contains in the vector backbone a negative selectable marker, e.g., thymidine kinase gene. When a recombinase recognizing the RRS is expressed, the recombination events between the two pairs of RRS result in the site-specific integration of the gene of interest in the genome of the cell. Upon selection based on the negative selectable marker, the parental cells, cells with undesired integration, e.g., random integration, or the integration of the vector backbone are removed.

Compositions and methods are provided for depletion of pluripotent cells. In one embodiment of the invention, methods are provided for depletion of pluripotent cells from a mixed population of differentiated cells and stem cells, to provide a population of cells substantially free of pluripotent stem cells.

The present invention provides a genetically modified NK cell line prepared by transducing host NK cell line with a gene construction encoding a cancer antigen-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a FLT3-specific monoclonal antibody or a functional fragment thereof, a transmembrane domain, and a CD3ζ domain of a T-cell receptor for more efficient immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia, and use thereof, for more efficient immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia.

A combined artificial cell death/reporter system polypeptide containing a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) fused to a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) polypeptide via a linker is described. Also described are polynucleotides encoding the artificial cell death polypeptide, cells expressing the artificial cell death polypeptide and related methods.

A method for predicting patient survival comprises determining a level of STK1 (serum thymidine kinase 1) material in a body sample from a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer using an antibody or a fragment thereof specifically binding to a serum form of human TK1. The method also comprises predicting survival of the patient based on the determined level of STK1 material in the body sample.

The present disclosure provides a replication-competent, recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus (RVV), compositions comprising the RVV, and use of the RVV or composition for inducing oncolysis in an individual having a tumor.

The present disclosure provides a replication-competent, recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus, compositions comprising the vaccinia virus, and use of the vaccinia virus or composition for inducing oncolysis in an individual having a tumor.