title: Gene therapy for malignant brain tumors.
abstract: Malignant primary and metastatic brain tumors have remained fatal in spite of major advances in diagnostic tools and the improvement of conventional therapies. Recent discoveries in the molecular basis of the disease have allowed increased understanding of the events that lead to the development of brain tumors and have also brought a new spectrum of alternatives for treatment. By using gene therapy, brain tumors can be treated by targeting their fundamental molecular defects, delivering gene-drugs to the malignant cells. The possible targets for this type of treatment are progressively increasing but abundant clinical success has yet to be obtained, in part due to imperfect delivery systems. In this review, the genetic fundamentals of various cerebral neoplasms and neurogenetic syndromes, different strategies used for gene therapy, various available DNA delivery systems, status of ongoing clinical trials, and possible prospects for the future are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological, Surgery and Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe St., Hunterian 817, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. gpradil2@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pradilla
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azzam
authors.forename: Paul P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Abraham J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Domb
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brem