Cancer gene therapy: an awkward adolescence
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice
Published on: January 24, 2025
1Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. mgottesman@nih.gov
Abstract:
At the Eleventh International Conference on Gene Therapy of Cancer (December 12-14, 2002, San Diego, CA) progress on using gene transfer technology to treat cancer was presented. Although there is as yet no cancer gene therapy being marketed, considerable progress has been made in defining likely strategies and likely targets for gene therapy of cancer. These strategies, including viral and non-viral delivery systems, and potential targets in cancer cells linked to our developing knowledge of cancer cell biology, are reviewed in this paper. Use of gene therapy to sensitize tumors to radiation and chemotherapy is one promising area of investigation. Some of the ancillary benefits of research on cancer gene therapy, including the development of public-private partnerships, recruitment of laboratory scientists into clinical research, and credentialing of potential cancer cell targets for therapies other than gene therapy, are noted.
Insights
Cancer gene therapy research shows progress in strategies and targets, despite no marketed treatments yet. Gene transfer offers promising approaches to sensitize tumors to conventional therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Gene transfer technology is being explored for cancer treatment.
- No cancer gene therapy products are currently marketed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review progress in cancer gene therapy strategies and targets.
- To highlight promising areas like sensitizing tumors to radiation and chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of viral and non-viral gene delivery systems.
- Identification of potential cancer cell targets based on cancer biology.
- Discussion of ancillary benefits of cancer gene therapy research.
Main Results:
- Considerable progress has been made in defining cancer gene therapy strategies.
- Potential targets in cancer cells are being identified.
- Gene therapy shows promise in sensitizing tumors to radiation and chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Cancer gene therapy is advancing, with defined strategies and targets.
- Research yields ancillary benefits like public-private partnerships and scientist recruitment.
- Further research is needed to translate progress into marketed therapies.
Related Concept Videos
00:59Gene Therapy
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence