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Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
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Published on: July 25, 2020

Gene therapy for cancer

A A Gutierrez1, N R Lemoine, K Sikora

  • 1Department of Clinical Oncology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.

Lancet (London, England)
|March 21, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Gene transfer offers novel cancer therapies by targeting oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Techniques like antisense nucleic acids, ribozymes, and gene replacement hold promise for suppressing cancer and enhancing immune response.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Therapy

Background:

  • Cancer involves oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene inactivation.
  • Genetic events in cancer present novel therapeutic targets.
  • Gene transfer offers potential strategies to modify somatic cells for cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the potential applications and ethical considerations of gene transfer in cancer therapy.
  • To explore how gene transfer can modulate gene expression and cellular behavior in cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current gene transfer technologies and their applications in oncology.
  • Discussion of informational drugs (antisense nucleic acids, ribozymes) for gene expression modulation.
  • Exploration of genetic immunomodulation and targeted prodrug activation strategies.

Main Results:

  • Gene transfer can suppress malignant behavior by modulating oncogene and tumor suppressor gene expression.
  • Genetic immunomodulation can enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
  • Targeted gene transfer can improve chemotherapy efficacy and protect normal tissues.

Conclusions:

  • Gene transfer represents a promising frontier in cancer therapy, targeting key genetic alterations.
  • Ethical implications of somatic cell gene transfer require careful consideration.
  • Future directions include gene replacement therapy for restoring tumor suppressor function.

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