Gene therapy strategies for leukemia.
A number of diverse gene therapy strategies are being evaluated in the search for novel therapeutic approaches to leukemia. Antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes and retroviral vectors are approaches directed at the molecular mechanisms of cancer. Transfer of genes encoding cytokines and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) could also be used to elicit immunity against tumor cells. Gene marking strategies have been useful in elucidating the biology of disease relapse after autologous bone marrow transplantation. Suicide genes, such as the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene, have been used to modulate graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Although gene delivery remains a major challenge to gene therapy, some modifications have been implemented to overcome this issue. This review will summarize these gene therapy strategies aimed at increasing the survival of patients with leukemia.
Braun
S E
SE
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5121, USA.
Chen
K
K
Battiwalla
M
M
Cornetta
K
K
D000818:Animals; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy*