TY - JOUR
T1 - Gene transfer of suicide genes for the treatment of malignant gliomas
T2 - efficacy, limitations, and perspectives for a combined immunotherapy.
AU - Benedetti, S.
AU - Di Meco, F.
AU - Pollo, B.
AU - Bruzzone, M. G.
AU - Cirenei, N.
AU - Spreafico, R.
AU - Solero, C. L.
AU - Broggi, G.
AU - Di Donato, S.
AU - Finocchiaro, G.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - The potential of gene therapy strategies for malignant gliomas that are based on retroviral-mediated transfer of a "suicide gene" such as Herpes Simplex Virus-thymidine kinase HSV-tk and subsequent treatment by a prodrug (ganciclovir, for example), has been emphasized by the promising results obtained by several groups. However, further experimental data as well as preliminary clinical results indicate that the low efficiency of retroviral-mediated gene transfer in vivo as well as difficulties for the diffusion of the prodrug inside the tumour mass can limit the efficacy of this form of gene therapy. To achieve a more effective limitation of tumour growth other approaches may be combined with the "suicide gene" strategy and the enhancement of the immunological response to the tumour by cytokine gene transfer is prominent among these approaches. The authors' experiments in nude mice confirm the antineoplastic role of IL-4 and encourage testing the effects of the simultaneous transfer of IL-4 and HSV-tk genes in immunocompetent animals.
AB - The potential of gene therapy strategies for malignant gliomas that are based on retroviral-mediated transfer of a "suicide gene" such as Herpes Simplex Virus-thymidine kinase HSV-tk and subsequent treatment by a prodrug (ganciclovir, for example), has been emphasized by the promising results obtained by several groups. However, further experimental data as well as preliminary clinical results indicate that the low efficiency of retroviral-mediated gene transfer in vivo as well as difficulties for the diffusion of the prodrug inside the tumour mass can limit the efficacy of this form of gene therapy. To achieve a more effective limitation of tumour growth other approaches may be combined with the "suicide gene" strategy and the enhancement of the immunological response to the tumour by cytokine gene transfer is prominent among these approaches. The authors' experiments in nude mice confirm the antineoplastic role of IL-4 and encourage testing the effects of the simultaneous transfer of IL-4 and HSV-tk genes in immunocompetent animals.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 9233423
AN - SCOPUS:0030630075
VL - 68
SP - 100
EP - 104
JO - Acta Neurochirurgica, Supplement
JF - Acta Neurochirurgica, Supplement
SN - 0065-1419
ER -