Tumor Suppressor Gene Therapy for Brain Tumors

摘要: Gliomas constitute the vast majority of primary cerebral malignant neoplasms and are highly resistant to currently employed treatment with a combination surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy. The median survival time patients gliomas (primarily glioblastomas) treated surgery alone is only 17 wk. Addition radiotherapy extends 37 Over last 30 yr, adjuvant chemotherapy has offered modest improvement, prolongation by several weeks or few months (1). development powerful tools for manipulation genes vectors enormously increased possibilities approaches cancer therapy other than pharmacological agents. Treatments based on genetic mechanisms will exploit extensive body information that been accumulated concerning molecular basis cancer. new strategy aimed take advantage underlying abnormalities tumor cells, those contribute unregulated growth prevent apoptosis, activate angiogenic factors, induce proliferation, promote invasiveness. One most promising therapeutic involves transfer may irreversibly modify neoplastic phenotype cells. In addition quick progression biology cancer, scientists around world committed translating their research from laboratories bedside. There now over 100 protocols in field gene progress worldwide (2) (Table 1). result one such study was published very recently. This work reports remission lung tumors after intratumoral injection vector able express high levels wild-type p53 protein (3). past 4 our group extensively studied effect glioma produced transferring p53, p16, retinoblastoma (Rb) suppressor using recombinant adenovirus. this chapter, we review strategies glioma, present experience laboratory field. Finally, speculate possible future directions improvement modality brain tumors.