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[Gene therapy and liver metastases]
O Martinet1, E D Reis, M Gillet
1Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. omartinet@hotmail.com
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|September 16, 1999
Summary
Gene therapy offers new hope for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases, a condition with limited treatment options. This approach uses gene transfer to target cancer cells, showing promise in preclinical studies and early clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Context:
- Colorectal cancer frequently metastasizes to the liver, affecting approximately 60% of patients.
- Liver resection offers the only long-term survival but is only an option for <20% of patients.
- Current options for unresectable liver metastases are limited to palliative chemotherapy and symptomatic care.
Purpose:
- To explore the potential of gene therapy for managing metastatic liver cancer.
- To review gene types and delivery vectors used in experimental and clinical settings.
- To discuss recent phase I and II clinical trials evaluating gene therapy for liver metastases.
Summary:
- Gene therapy involves transferring therapeutic genes into target cells in vivo to treat metastatic liver cancer.
- Therapeutic genes include 'suicide' genes, cytokines, anti-angiogenic genes, tumor-suppressor genes, and oncogenes.
- Gene transfer is facilitated by viral and physico-chemical vectors, with ongoing improvements in delivery systems and minimally invasive techniques.
Impact:
- Preclinical studies show promising results, including tumor destruction and long-term protective immunity.
- Early-phase clinical trials are investigating the safety and efficacy of gene therapy for liver metastases.
- Successful gene therapy integration could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with unresectable liver metastases.