title: Gene therapy strategies for colon cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in Western countries. Gene therapy represents a novel approach to the treatment of colorectal cancer, and this review addresses the current strategies and ongoing clinical trials, including gene correction, immunomodulatory approaches and virus-directed enzyme-prodrug systems. Although the pre-clinical results for these strategies have been encouraging, clinical trials have not yet reflected these data. However, gene therapy for colorectal cancer is still in the early stages of development, and its potential, particularly in combination with conventional cancer therapies, warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: CRC Institute of Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK B15 2TA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chung-Faye
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Searle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011355:Prodrugs; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic