Volume 5, Issue 4 pp. 345-381
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Gene Therapy for Brain Tumors

Christof M. Kramm

Christof M. Kramm

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

University Children's Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany

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Miguel Sena-Esteves

Miguel Sena-Esteves

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Faith H. Barnett

Faith H. Barnett

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Neurosurgical Service, Children's Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

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Nikolai G. Rainov

Nikolai G. Rainov

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Department of Neurosurgery, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany

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Deborah E. Schuback

Deborah E. Schuback

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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John S. Yu

John S. Yu

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Neurosurgical Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

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Peter A. Pechan

Peter A. Pechan

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Werner Paulus

Werner Paulus

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Institute of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

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E. Antonio Chiocca

E. Antonio Chiocca

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Neurosurgical Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

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Xandra O. Breakefield

Corresponding Author

Xandra O. Breakefield

Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neurology Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Corresponding author: Dr. Xandra O. Breakefield, Massachusetts General Hospital East, Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, 13th St., Bldg. 149, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA Tel. +1 (617) 726–5728, Fax + 1 (617) 726–5736Search for more papers by this author
First published: October 1995
Citations: 71

Abstract

Gene therapy has opened new doors for treatment of neoplastic diseases. This new approach seems very attractive, especially for glioblastomas, since treatment of these brain tumors has failed using conventional therapy regimens. Many different modes of gene therapy for brain tumors have been tested in culture and in vivo. Many of these approaches are based on previously established anti-neoplastic principles, like prodrug activating enzymes, inhibition of tumor neovascularization, and enhancement of the normally weak anti-tumor immune response. Delivery of genes to tumor cells has been mediated by a number of viral and synthetic vectors. The most widely used paradigm is based on the activation of ganciclovir to a cytotoxic compound by a viral enzyme, thymidine kinase, which is expressed by tumor cells, after the gene has been introduced by a retroviral vector. This paradigm has proven to be a potent therapy with minimal side effects in several rodent brain tumor models, and has proceeded to phase 1 clinical trials. In this review, current gene therapy strategies and vector systems for treatment of brain tumors will be described and discussed in light of further developments needed to make this new treatment modality clinically efficacious.

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