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Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer
07:45

Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer

Published on: May 18, 2020

[Gene therapy for breast cancer]

Shunji Takahashi1, Kiyohiko Hatake, Yoshikazu Sugimoto

  • 1Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research.

Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|May 2, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Gene therapy using the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) shows promise for advanced breast cancer. Two patients achieved complete remission with no adverse effects after high-dose chemotherapy and MDR1-transduced stem cell transplantation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Gene Therapy
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Advanced or relapsed breast cancer prognosis remains poor despite chemotherapy and endocrine therapy.
  • Gene therapy presents a promising therapeutic avenue for advanced breast cancer.
  • Current gene therapy strategies include oncogene suppression, immune enhancement, suicide gene transduction, and drug resistance gene transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) therapy in patients with advanced or relapsed breast cancer.
  • To assess the in vivo enrichment of MDR1-transduced cells following high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).

Main Methods:

  • A clinical study involving advanced or relapsed breast cancer patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous PBSCT with MDR1-transduced hemopoietic stem cells.
  • Post-transplantation treatment with docetaxel to promote enrichment of MDR1-transduced cells.
  • Monitoring for complete remission and adverse effects.

Main Results:

  • Two patients were treated, both exhibiting in vivo enrichment of MDR1-transduced cells after docetaxel treatment post-PBSCT.
  • Both patients achieved complete remission.
  • No apparent adverse effects were observed from the MDR1 gene transduction.

Conclusions:

  • MDR1 gene therapy combined with high-dose chemotherapy, PBSCT, and docetaxel is a potentially effective treatment for advanced or relapsed breast cancer.
  • This approach demonstrated successful in vivo cell enrichment and achieved complete remission in treated patients.
  • The treatment appears safe with no significant adverse effects related to MDR1 gene transduction.

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