Gene therapy for lung cancer.
In the pre-clinical research into the development of gene therapy for cancer, different strategies have evolved and shown promising results in the laboratory. However, most of these strategies will need further refinement to obtain clinical success. This is partly due to the lack of suitable vector systems which specifically can deliver the therapeutic gene to the target cells, and ensure expression of the therapeutic gene. In this review we will give an introduction to different strategies used in cancer gene therapy for neoplasms of the lung, and focus on how to target gene delivery to disseminated lung cancer cells. Tumor specific gene expression can be accomplished at different levels. One way to accomplish targeted gene delivery is by coupling of receptor specific ligands to the vector. Specific gene delivery to cells expressing the target receptor will occur by receptor mediated endocytosis of the vector. Further restriction of gene expression to cancer cells can be accomplished by utilizing promoters predominantly active in tumors. When gene therapy is targeted at different levels, efficient gene delivery to disseminated cancer cells by systemic vector administration will be an attractive future prospect.
Section of Radiation Biology, Finsen Center 3993, National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
K S
KS
Frederiksen
A
A
Petri
N
N
Abrahamsen
H S
HS
Poulsen
D000818:Animals; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018390:Gene Targeting; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000235:genetics; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D016373:DNA, Antisense