Endocrine aspects of cancer gene therapy.
The field of cancer gene therapy is in continuous expansion, and technology is quickly moving ahead as far as gene targeting and regulation of gene expression are concerned. This review focuses on the endocrine aspects of gene therapy, including the possibility to exploit hormone and hormone receptor functions for regulating therapeutic gene expression, the use of endocrine-specific genes as new therapeutic tools, the effects of viral vector delivery and transgene expression on the endocrine system, and the endocrine response to viral vector delivery. Present ethical concerns of gene therapy and the risk of germ cell transduction are also discussed, along with potential lines of innovation to improve cell and gene targeting.
Barzon
Luisa
L
Department of Histology, Microbiology, and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, I-35121 Padua, Italy.
Boscaro
Marco
M
Palù
Giorgio
G
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics