CYTOKINE GENE-THERAPY - A NEW STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CANCER-PATIENTS

Cytokine gene therapy has recently become a new potential prospect in the management of cancer patients. This has stemmed from clinical cons iderations based on the evidence that high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) m ay be effective in a proportion of patients, that foreign genetic mate rial may be successfully inserted into the genome of normal and neopla stic cells, and by extensive studies in experimental models which have shown that cytokine-gene-transduced tumor cells may reveal a diminish ed or abolished tumorigenicity. Evidence has also been provided that t he IL-2 released constitutively by engineered tumor cells may induce t he generation of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and of an antitumor memory response. Here, we will review the data which have led to the a ctivation of the first pilot vaccination protocols with IL-2 gene-tran sduced allogeneic cell Lines for advanced-stage melanoma and renal cel l carcinoma patients. New directions in delivery modalities, as well a s future strategies will also be discussed.