Gene therapy for cancer

Abstract

The molecular basis of cancer is now understood to involve activation of dominant oncogenes and inactivation of tumour suppressor genes, and these genetic events may represent novel targets for cancer therapy. This review focuses on the potential use and ethical implications of gene transfer to alter the behaviour of somatic cells in cancer patients. Antisense nucleic acids and ribozymes represent informational drugs that may be used to modulate the expression of selected genes and suppress malignant behaviour in cancer cells. Genetic immunomodulation by introducing genes for cytokines into cancer cells or lymphocytes can stimulate a cytotoxic immune response against the tumour. Gene transfer techniques can be applied to target prodrug activation specifically to tumour cells and also to protect normal tissues against toxic chemotherapy. Gene replacement therapy could even be used to restore the function of defective tumour suppressor genes.