title: Gene therapy of glioblastoma multiforme via combined expression of suicide and cytokine genes: a pilot study in humans.
abstract: Retrovirus-mediated gene therapy is a particularly attractive approach for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), given the poor prognosis of this tumour and its localized proliferation in post-mitotic tissue. In this study we assessed, for the first time in humans, the therapeutic potential of a newly designed bicistronic Moloney vector (pLIL-2-TK), combining the expression of a suicide gene (thymidine kinase, tk) with an immunomodulatory gene (human interleukin 2, IL-2). Evidence of transgene activity in the treated tumours is presented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Padova, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palù
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavaggioni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calvi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizzato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boschetto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parolin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chilosi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanusso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D013937:Thymidine Kinase