Direct introduction of therapeutic genes into malignant cells in vivo may provide an effective treatment of solid tumors such as prostate cancer. The herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene codes for an enzyme which phosphorylates the nucleoside analog ganciclovir (GCV) into an intermediate that is incorporated into newly synthesized DNA and terminates further replication, leading to cell death. Since normal mammalian cells do not possess this enzyme, cytotoxicity depends on the successful introduction and expression of the HSV-tk gene, phosphorylation of ganciclovir and synthesis of DNA. Non-dividing cells may express HSV-tk and phosphorylate ganciclovir but are not harmed since they do not synthesize DNA. This approach is especially suitable for the treatment of tumors where rapidly dividing tumor cells are adjacent to tissues made up largely of non-proliferating cells. Using human and animal models for prostate cancer we have demonstrated that adenovirus-mediated transfer of the HSV-tk gene resulted in sensitivity to ganciclovir in vitro and growth suppression of mouse prostate cancer in vivo.