[Gene therapy for brain tumors--present conditions and prospects]

Malignant brain tumors, particularly malignant gliomas, are one of the most difficult diseases to cure. Gene therapy for malignant gliomas has been clinically applied since 1992 as an advanced therapeutic strategy for a breakthrough. Suicide gene therapy with retroviral or adenoviral vectors was the mainstream at first. Now protocols of immune gene therapy and oncolytic therapy with replication competent virus only within tumor cells are increasing in number. So far, it would be difficult to hold that gene therapy for malignant brain tumors has shown a remarkable therapeutic effect. However, gene therapy would be a more powerful tool for exploration of therapeutic genes on the basis of molecule antitumor mechanisms, improvement of gene expression systems and amelioration of gene delivery methods. Besides in addition, cooperation among industry, administration and university is necessary for promotion of basic and clinical research as well as the development of gene therapy to overcome malignant brain tumors.