title: Cancer suicide gene therapy: a patent review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is considered the second leading cause of death worldwide despite the progress made in early detection and advances in classical therapies. Advancing in the fight against cancer requires the development of novel strategies, and the suicide gene transfer to tumor cells is providing new possibilities for cancer therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this manuscript, authors present an overview of suicide gene systems and the latest innovations done to enhance cancer suicide gene therapy strategies by i) improving vectors for targeted gene delivery using tissue specific promoter and receptors; ii) modification of the tropism; and iii) combining suicide genes and/or classical therapies for cancer. Finally, the authors highlight the main challenges to be addressed in the future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even if many efforts are needed for suicide gene therapy to be a real alternative for cancer treatment, we believe that the significant progress made in the knowledge of cancer biology and characterization of cancer stem cells accompanied by the development of novel targeted vectors will enhance the effectiveness of this type of therapeutic strategy. Moreover, combined with current treatments, suicide gene therapy will improve the clinical outcome of patients with cancer in the future.
authors.affiliation: a Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Saúl Abenhamar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: a Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|b Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-Univesity of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Esmeralda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.affiliation: a Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griñán-Lisón
authors.affiliation: a Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: d Department of Health Sciences , University of Jaén , Jaén , Spain.
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perán
authors.affiliation: a Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|b Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-Univesity of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.affiliation: a Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|b Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-Univesity of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Houria
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boulaiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D041722:Genes, Transgenic, Suicide; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010330:Patents as Topic
keywords: Cancer; cancer stem cells; suicide gene therapy; targeted vectors; tissue specific promoter