Gene therapy in gynecological cancer

Abstract

Gynecological malignancies remain a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the USA alone, more than 77,000 women are diagnosed annually and over 28,000 die of some form of a gynecological malignancy. Many of these women will fail conventional therapy, leaving few remaining treatment options. Gene therapy presents one possible alternative treatment modality although, unfortunately, it is currently more theoretical than practical. Here, some of the basic science behind gene therapy is reviewed, different delivery systems used to transport the therapeutic gene are discussed, different methods of achieving a therapeutic effect are examined, some of the key trials in ovarian, endometrial, cervical and vulvar cancer research are highlighted and the future of gene therapy is explored.

Gene Therapy for Malignant and Benign Gynaecological Disorders: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Success Story

“…There are two main strategies for specific and efficient gene delivery to cancer and non-cancer cells, and these involve either viral or non-viral systems, as summarised in Figure 1 and described below in Section 2. The main gene therapy strategies employ mutation compensation, primarily involving the replacement of a mutated tumour suppressor gene or the modification of aberrant gene expression in tumour cells, antiangiogenic, suicide gene therapy, and immunopotentiation approaches [5,6] (Figure 2). This review covers all major advances in gene therapy for gynaecological cancer and benign disorders.…”