Potential Therapeutic Modalities in Cancer Gene Therapy
Journal Title: Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
In spite of huge concerted efforts, the treatment of cancer, a disease frequently associated with genetic alterations caused due to hereditary or environmental factors, remains a challenge. The last few years have witnessed emergence of several innovative and effective modalities for the treatment of solid tumours and hematological malignancies. Gene therapy has shown enormous potential for cancer treatment, especially for metastatic cancers which unlike localized solid tumours, may not be amenable to surgery or other treatment options. Gene therapy aims to introduce a correct copy of the malfunctioning gene in the tumour environment by using viral or non-viral methods to impede or inhibit its growth. This review provides an overview of three main approaches for cancer gene therapy namely immunotherapy, oncolytic therapy and gene transfer therapy. Immunotherapy augments the host immune system in order to destroy cancer cells while oncolytic therapy uses genetically engineered viruses such as to effectively kill cancer cells. Clinical studies so far have shown that cells can be engineered to express gene products that can specifically target cancer cells and prevents their growth and metastasis. Though gene therapy for cancer is yet to see extensive clinical use, it is likely that in combination with other treatment modalities, it will help in controlling and possibly curing cancer in the near future.
Authors and Affiliations
Prithvi Sinha, Sonia Kapoor, Sachin Kadam, Niroj K Sahu, Amit K Jaiswal
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP227489
- DOI -
- Views 77
- Downloads 0
Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Breast – Real versus Mimic
Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a rare entity and is difcult to differentiate from invasive ductal carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation especially on small core biopsy specimens. Here we p...
Primary Bilateral Non Hodgkin’s Ovarian Lymphoma - A Case Report
Background: Involvement of the ovary by malignant lymphoma is a well known late manifestation of disseminated nodal disease. Primary ovarian lymphoma is rare. Case History: We report an autopsy case of primary ovarian no...
Frequency and Nutrient Content of Meals of the Mothers and the Birth Weight andGestational Age of the Baby
Background: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is one of the most important factors for the health and the wellbeing of both mother and the baby. In spite of Reproductive Child Health (RCH) programme, the proportion of...
Importance of Visit to the Scene of Crime to Determine Manner of Death – A Case Report
Most of the times manner of death is given based upon postmortem findings and spot inquest, without visiting the scene of crime. If a doctor who performs medicolegal postmortem examination also visits to the scene of cri...
Moving Medical Education into the 21 Century: Commentary on A WorldwideChallenge