Targeted Gene Delivery Therapies for Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Despite being largely preventable through early vaccination and screening strategies, cervical cancer is the most common type of gynecological malignancy worldwide and constitutes one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Patients with advanced or recurrent disease have a very poor prognosis; hence, novel therapeutic modalities to improve clinical outcomes in cervical malignancy are needed. In this regard, targeted gene delivery therapy is presented as a promising approach, which leads to the development of multiple strategies focused on different aspects. These range from altered gene restoration, immune system potentiation, and oncolytic virotherapy to the use of nanotechnology and the design of improved and enhanced gene delivery systems, among others. In the present manuscript, we review the current progress made in targeted gene delivery therapy for cervical cancer, the advantages and drawbacks and their clinical application. At present, multiple targeted gene delivery systems have been reported with encouraging preclinical results. However, the translation to humans has not yet shown a significant clinical benefit due principally to the lack of efficient vectors. Real efforts are being made to develop new gene delivery systems, to improve tumor targeting and to minimize toxicity in normal tissues.

<p>Histone Demethylase <em>KDM3A</em> Promotes Cervical Cancer Malignancy Through the <em>ETS1</em>/KIF14/Hedgehog Axis</p>

“…3 Besides, the radiation exposure itself may bring side-effects and a risk fact for cancer development. 4 Gene-based therapy has been accepted as a less-invasive promising approach that brings the development of many treating options focusing on different aspects, 5 which requires an increased understanding in the molecules of action.…”

Identification and Prognostic Value Exploration of Radiotherapy Sensitivity-Associated Genes in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

“…Frequent IGFN1 mutation is detected in metastatic breast cancer, the disease which leads to the poor prognosis of patients [ 44 ]. KCNJ12 shows high frequency of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [ 45 ] and is adopted for stratifying the stage of colorectal cancer [ 46 ]. HIST1H2BH is related to the survival outcome of cervical cancer patients, which could be used for prognosis prediction [ 47 ].…”

LncRNA MORT (ZNF667-AS1) in Cancer—Is There a Possible Role in Gynecological Malignancies?

“…The development of safe vectors and optimal delivery to the region of interest determines the successful outcome of this therapy. Several studies have indicated that transcriptional regulatory sequences of the H19 gene are potentially important candidates for cancer gene therapy [108][109][110][111]. H19 is an oncofetal gene that is paternally imprinted and maternally expressed and that encodes a lncRNA.…”