New approaches in brain tumor therapy using gene transfer and antisense oligonucleotides

Despite advances in neurosurgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with malignant brain tumors remains grim. New approaches, particularly molecular strategies, have become the clinician's and scientist's hope for the future in brain tumor therapy. Several molecular approaches have been shown to have in vitro and in vivo activities. These approaches include the use of retroviral vectors, herpes simplex viruses, antisense vectors, and antisense oligonucleotides. Preclinical studies of the retroviral vector have already been extended to clinical trials, clearly demonstrating the clinical potential of these molecular therapies.