Gene therapy for carcinoma of the breast: Genetic immunotherapy

Abstract

Advances in gene transfer technology have greatly expanded the opportunities for developing immunotherapy strategies for breast carcinoma. Genetic immunotherapy approaches include the transfer of genes encoding cytokines and costimulatory molecules to modulate immune function, as well as genetic immunization strategies which rely on the delivery of cloned tumor antigens. Improved gene transfer vectors, coupled with a better understanding of the processes that are necessary to elicit an immune response and an expanding number of target breast tumor antigens, have led to renewed enthusiasm that effective immunotherapy may be achieved. It is likely that immunotherapeutic interventions will find their greatest clinical application as adjuvants to traditional first-line therapies, targeting micrometastatic disease and thereby reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.

Transcriptional targeting modalities in breast cancer gene therapy using adenovirus vectors controlled by α-lactalbumin promoter

“…Advances in understanding genetic alterations associated with breast cancer progression (4) have made gene therapy an exciting alternative for treating hormone-refractory breast cancers. The present gene therapy strategies for carcinoma of the breast include genetic correction (5), genetic ablation (6), genetic toxins (7), genetic immunotherapy (8), and proapoptotic gene therapy strategies (9). However, these strategies cannot be maximized until better gene transfer technologies are developed to target breast cancer cells more specifically.…”

Novel Cationic Lipid That Delivers siRNA and Enhances Therapeutic Effect in Lung Cancer Cells

“…Cancer cells develop multiple mechanisms to ensure proliferation, metastasis and survival. 49,50 Inhibiting a resistance or survival pathway is often an effective way to enhance the toxicity of a chemotherapeutic drug. 51,52 It is often necessary to target multiple pathways to efficiently reduce the growth of cancer cells.…”

“…Cancer cells develop multiple mechanisms to ensure proliferation, metastasis and survival. , Inhibiting a resistance or survival pathway is often an effective way to enhance the toxicity of a chemotherapeutic drug. , It is often necessary to target multiple pathways to efficiently reduce the growth of cancer cells . For this purpose, we studied the effect of combined treatment of human lung cancer cells with siRNA targeting EGFR and DSGLA.…”

Gene therapy for carcinoma of the breast

“…128 In this regard, transfer of genes encoding immunostimulatory molecules directly into breast cancer cells may be an effective means of activating the numbers of immune effector cells. Initial studies focused on systemic injection of cytokines such as IL-2.…”