title: Gene transfer vectors targeted to human prostate cancer: do we need better preclinical testing systems?
abstract: Destruction of cancer cells by genetically modified viral and nonviral vectors has been the aim of many research programs. The ability to target cytotoxic gene therapies to the cells of interest is an essential prerequisite, and the treatment has always had the potential to provide better and more long-lasting therapy than existing chemotherapies. However, the potency of these infectious agents requires effective testing systems, in which hypotheses can be explored both in vitro and in vivo before the establishment of clinical trials in humans. The real prospect of off-target effects should be eliminated in the preclinical stage, if current prejudices against such therapies are to be overcome. In this review we have set out, using adenoviral vectors as a commonly used example, to discuss some of the key parameters required to develop more effective testing, and to critically assess the current cellular models for the development and testing of prostate cancer biotherapy. Only by developing models that more closely mirror human tissues will we be able to translate literature publications into clinical trials and hence into acceptable alternative treatments for the most commonly diagnosed cancer in humans.
authors.affiliation: Yorkshire Cancer Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of York , York YO10 5YW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maitland
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simpson-Holley
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leadley
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essand
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danielsson
authors.forename: Wytske
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Weerden
authors.forename: Corrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Ridder
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraaij
authors.forename: Chris H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bangma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*