title: Herpes simplex virus-based vectors for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative disease.
abstract: Vectors based on herpes simplex virus (HSV) are being developed for use in human neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. In neurodegenerative disease, this involves the use of highly disabled, non-replicating HSV vectors engineered to carry a therapeutic gene. In contrast, the use of HSV vectors in cancer involves partially disabled viruses that can replicate in dividing cells but not in non-dividing cells and therefore have an oncolytic effect. Both these approaches have produced promising results in cell culture and animal models. Moreover, phase I clinical trials have demonstrated the safety of HSV vectors and their possible efficacy in otherwise untreatable cancers.
authors.affiliation: University of London, Birkbeck, London, UK. d.latchman@bbk.ac.uk
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*