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Targeting strategies in cancer gene therapy

Jin-Hui Wang1, Xin-Yuan Liu

  • 1Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. xyliu@sibs.ac.cn

Sheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao Acta Biochimica Et Biophysica Sinica
|April 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Targeted gene therapy improves cancer treatment by directing gene transfer to tumors, minimizing side effects and risks. Advances include novel viral and non-viral delivery systems and gene transcription regulation for enhanced efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Therapy

Background:

  • Targeted gene delivery enhances therapeutic efficacy in cancer by minimizing off-target effects and germline transduction.
  • Systemic gene transfer necessitates precise targeting strategies for effective cancer treatment.
  • Gene therapy for malignancies can be achieved via targeted delivery or transcription control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in targeted gene delivery and transcription for cancer therapy.
  • To highlight novel viral and non-viral delivery systems for targeted gene therapy.
  • To discuss strategies for regulating therapeutic gene expression in tumor cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing bifunctional crosslinkers for viral vector targeting (adenoviral, retroviral).
  • Engineering viral vectors with targeting peptides and polypeptide-binding domains.
  • Developing non-viral delivery systems like receptor-mediated DNA/liposome-DNA complexes and bacterial vehicles.
  • Employing tumor-specific promoters and regulatory systems for controlled gene transcription.
  • Developing antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, and DNAzymes for gene inactivation.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated success of engineered viral vectors and non-viral agents in targeted delivery.
  • Replication-competent vectors show promise as anti-cancer agents.
  • Several targeted delivery systems are progressing through clinical trials.
  • Tissue-specific promoters enable targeted gene expression.
  • Oligonucleotide-based therapies can inactivate oncogenic genes.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted gene therapy offers a promising approach to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
  • Ongoing research and clinical trials are advancing the development of effective targeted gene delivery and transcription strategies.
  • The combination of targeted delivery and regulated gene expression holds significant potential for future cancer therapeutics.

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