Prostate cancer gene therapy: past experiences and future promise

Abstract

Gene therapy has been used to target prostate cancer with excellent pre-clinical efficacy but limited clinical efficacy. The concept of delivering genetic material to prostate cancer cells to alter their phenotype and ultimately their behavior has been demonstrated in the laboratory over the last decade. Translating those pre-clinical findings into novel therapies for prostate cancer has been difficult. The stigma of gene therapy and the aggressive regulation of clinical trials involving transfer of genetic material to patients are two major impediments to clinical successes in gene therapy. This review hopes to provide a snapshot of prior gene transfer protocol findings and forecast the exciting future directions investigators are heading.