CONSIDERATIONS OF SOMATIC GENE-THERAPY IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS-CELLCANCER

Gene therapy is an important new approach to the treatment and prevent ion of human diseases. Somatic gene therapy involves the introduction of novel genetic material into somatic cells to express therapeutic ge ne products. Two main strategies in somatic gene therapy of cancer are applied: the genetic correction of the defect, or the elimination of cancer cells by cytotoxic drugs or the immune system. Gene transfer ca n be accomplished by physical and chemical methods or nonreplicating v iruses. The different transfer systems vary strongly in their efficien cy of transfection, plasmid maintenance, and protein expression. The c linical application could be performed in two ways: Firstly, by in viv o application of genome modifying substances injected directly into th e tumour; secondly, by ex vivo application of genetically modified tum our cells as a tumour vaccine. The following review will discuss some of the gene therapy strategies that could be effective in managing hea d and neck cancer.