Co-expression of interleukin 12 enhances antitumor effects of a novel chimeric promoter-mediated suicide gene therapy in an immunocompetent mouse model

► A novel chimeric promoter consisting of CArG element and hTERT promoter was developed. ► The promoter was characterized with radiation-inducibility and tumor-specificity. ► Suicide gene system driven by the promoter showed remarkable cytotoxicity in vitro. ► Co-expression of IL12 enhanced the promoter mediated suicide gene therapy in vivo.