Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026

09:56
A Nonviral Approach to Generate Transient Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Using mRNA for Cancer Immunotherapy
Published on: February 21, 2025
1.4K
Anticancer gene transfer for cancer gene therapy
Evangelos Pazarentzos1, Nicholas D Mazarakis
1University of California-San Francisco (UCSF), 600 16th st, Genentech Hall, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 9, 2014
Summary
Cancer gene therapy uses specific vectors to target malignant tumors, improving outcomes by sparing healthy cells. This review examines cancer-specific gene therapy systems, challenges, and future directions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Gene therapy is an emerging treatment for malignant tumors.
- Early gene therapy vectors non-specifically targeted cells, causing toxicity to both cancerous and normal tissues.
- Recent advancements have led to the development of cancer-specific viral vectors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current cancer-specific gene therapy systems used in cancer treatment.
- To discuss the major challenges associated with these systems.
- To explore future directions in the field of cancer-specific gene therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on cancer-specific gene therapy vectors.
- Analysis of therapeutic transgene mechanisms targeting cancer cells.
- Evaluation of vector specificity and toxicity profiles.
Main Results:
- Novel viral vectors demonstrate cancer-specific targeting, minimizing harm to normal cells.
- These targeted vectors enhance the therapeutic efficacy of gene therapy for malignant tumors.
- Significant progress has been made in developing safer and more effective gene therapy approaches.
Conclusions:
- Cancer-specific gene therapy vectors represent a significant advancement in oncology.
- Overcoming challenges in vector delivery and immune response is crucial for clinical success.
- Continued research holds promise for improved cancer treatment outcomes through targeted gene therapy.
Related Concept Videos
Gene Therapy
22.1K
Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
22.1K
Gene Therapy
4.4K
4.4K
Cancer
51.4K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
51.4K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
8.9K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
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...
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...
8.9K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
5.8K
5.8K
Targeted Cancer Therapies
7.0K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.0K

