The present invention provides cell fusogenic vectors having replicative
ability, whose protease-dependent tropism has been modified. M
gene-deficient viral vectors encoding modified F proteins, in which the
cleavage site of the F protein of paramyxovirus is modified to be cleaved
by different proteases, were produced. In cells transfected with these
vectors, the genomic RNA present in the vectors is replicated, and cell
fusogenic infection spreads to neighboring cells depending on the
presence of other proteases; however, no viral particles are released.
The vectors of this invention, encoding the F proteins which are cleaved
by proteases whose activity is enhanced in cancer, show cancer growth
suppressive effect in vivo.