296. Transgene Expression and Neutralizing Antibody Production after Submandibular Gland Administration of AdhAQP1

The treatment of patients with head and neck cancers typically includes ionizing radiation (IR). A significant consequence of this is the irreversible damage to salivary glands in the IR field. Without saliva, these patients suffer considerable morbidity, including oral infections, mucositis, dysphagia, as well as frank discomfort. Currently, there is no adequate treatment for this condition. Previously (Delporte et al, PNAS, 1997; Shan et al, Mol Ther, 2005), we showed that serotype 5 adenoviral (Ad5) -mediated transfer of the human aquaporin-1 (hAQP1) cDNA, via AdhAQP1, resulted in a restoration of near normal salivary flow to both rat submandibular and minipig parotid glands four months following IR.