title: Current progress in the gene therapy of cancer.
abstract: Gene transfer for the treatment of cancer is a rapidly expanding field. Recent studies can be divided into four main areas: 1) transfer of suicide genes that convert inactive prodrugs into cytotoxic compounds, 2) transfer of genes encoding cytokines and stimulatory markers to enhance immunogenicity against tumors, 3) transfer of tumor-suppressor genes to block tumor cell proliferation, and 4) transfer of drug resistance genes into hematopoietic stem cells to increase their resistance to myelo-suppressive chemotherapeutic agents. This review discusses recent advances in technique and knowledge and their application to the gene therapy of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and the CWRU/Ireland Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gerson
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001711:Biotransformation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D043525:Cytosine Deaminase; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000235:genetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009700:Nucleoside Deaminases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000201:enzymology; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011355:Prodrugs; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D008780:Methyltransferases; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D009700:Nucleoside Deaminases; D043525:Cytosine Deaminase; D015774:Ganciclovir