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Adenoviral-mediated suicide gene therapy for ovarian cancer

R D Alvarez1, J Gomez-Navarro, M Wang

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Gene Vector Laboratory, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. rdalvarez@aol.com

Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy
|November 18, 2000
PubMed

Insights

This Phase I study found adenoviral-mediated suicide gene therapy with AdHSV-TK and ganciclovir (GCV) to be a feasible and tolerable treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncolytic virotherapy
  • Gene therapy
  • Gynecologic oncology

Background:

  • Recurrent ovarian cancer presents significant treatment challenges.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and potential efficacy of adenoviral-mediated suicide gene therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer.
  • To determine the feasibility of administering AdHSV-TK and ganciclovir (GCV).

Main Methods:

  • Phase I clinical trial involving 14 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.
  • Intraperitoneal administration of AdHSV-TK (1x10(9) to 1x10(11) pfu).
  • Intravenous ganciclovir (GCV) administered for 14 days post-vector infusion.

Main Results:

  • Treatment was generally well-tolerated with transient fever and mild constitutional symptoms in some patients.
  • No dose-limiting vector-specific toxicities were observed.
  • Of 13 evaluable patients, 38% had stable disease, while 62% showed progressive disease. Transgene presence and anti-adenovirus antibodies were detected.

Conclusions:

  • Adenoviral-mediated suicide gene therapy (AdHSV-TK) combined with GCV is feasible and tolerated in recurrent ovarian cancer patients.
  • Further investigation is warranted to optimize this therapeutic approach.
  • This strategy shows promise as a potential treatment option for ovarian cancer.

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