Objective:In this study,we examine the effects of recombinant adenovirus-p53(rAd-p53)on the pancreatic carcinoma cell line SW1990.Specifically,we determine if expression of rAd-p53 sensitizes these cells to radiation.Methods:Following transfection of SW1990 cells with rAd-p53,we measured expression of P53,P21 and Bax by immunocytochemistry.Both transfected and control cell lines were irradiated with a range of doses,and the survival fractions(SF)were calculated.Dose survival curves were constructed and modeled for comparison.Results:Transfection of SW1990 cells with rAd-p53 resulted in increased expression of P53,P21 and Bax in a time-dependent manner.At 96 h after transfection,89.92%of cells expressed P53,56.8%expressed P21,and 76.50%expressed Bax.The SF following radiation was lower in the rAd-p53 transfected cells compared to the control cells,suggesting that rAd-p53 sensitizes SW1990 cells to radiation(D0for the experimental and control groups was 2.199 and 2.462,respectively).Conclusions:Use of the adenoviral vector is an effective means of transfecting SW1990 cells with wild-type P53,and this sensitizes the cell line to irradiation.This work suggests that combining rAd-p53with radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer may be therapeutically beneficial. Objective: In this study, we examine the effects of recombinant adenovirus-p53 (rAd-p53) on the pancreatic carcinoma cell line SW1990. Specifically, we determine if expression of rAd-p53 sensitizes these cells to radiation. Methods: Following transfection of SW1990 cells with rAd-p53, we measured expression of P53, P21 and Bax by immunocytochemistry. Both transfected and control cell lines were irradiated with a range of doses, and the survival fractions (SF) were calculated. Dose survival curves were constructed and modeled for Results: Transfection of SW1990 cells with rAd-p53 resulted in increased expression of P53, P21 and Bax in a time-dependent manner. At 96 h after transfection, 89.92% of cells expressed P53, 56.8% expressed P21, and 76.50% expressed Bax. The SF following radiation was lower in the rAd-p53 transfected cells compared to the control cells, suggesting that rAd-p53 sensitizes SW1990 cells to radiation (D0 for the experimental and control groups was 2.199 and 2.462, respectively) .Conc lusions: Use of the adenoviral vector is an effective means of transfecting SW1990 cells with wild-type P53, and this sensitizes the cell line to irradiation. This work suggests that combining rAd-p53 with radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer may be therapeutically beneficial.