Gene therapy of malignant glioma: Recent advances in experimental and clinical studies

• Published in: Annals of oncology Vol. 9; no. 11; pp. 1155 - 1166
• Main Authors: Sasaki, M., Plate, K. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-11-1998
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - genetics; Brain Neoplasms - therapy; Chemotherapy; Clinical Trials as Topic; gene therapy; Genetic Therapy - methods; Glioma - genetics; Glioma - therapy; Humans; malignant glioma; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Malignant glioma; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Treatment; Central nervous system disease; Malignant tumor; Review; Gene therapy; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0923-7534; 1569-8041
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1008488709359

Recent advances in molecular tumor biology and gene technology have provided the possibility to treat patients with malignant brain tumors by altering gene expression in tumor cells. Tumor development and progression involves alterations in a wide spectrum of genes, therefore a variety of gene therapy approaches for malignant gliomas have been proposed. In this review article, we discuss some principles of current gene therapeutic strategies that are under investigation in laboratories and in clinics. In addition, some general issues that remain to be resolved for clinical application of gene therapy in patients with malignant gliomas will be addressed.