Using the same RTM44 as described by Sun et al. [17], we demonstrate here the successful introduction of HSVtk into the coding sequence of Ct-SLCO1B3 in the presence of functional RTM44, and tumor cell killing in cell culture and as well as in a xenograft mouse model for RDEB-SCC following treatment with the prodrug GCV. The gene discussed is SLCO1B3; the disease is neoplasm.