GENE-TRANSFER TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE GENE-THERAPY OF CANCER

Gene therapy for cancer relies upon the delivery of a therapeutic gene to a target cell population which may comprise either the tumour cell s themselves or specific host effector cells with anti-tumour activity . In addition, gene delivery may be targeted directly to the tumour ce lls in vivo or towards cells explanted from the patient. The precise r equirements of the delivery system depend upon the specific therapeuti c strategy being used in each case, however, delivery must be accurate , efficient and must result in correctly regulated expression of the g ene in only the desired cell type. Equally important, the delivery sys tem must be sale for both the patient and the community as a whole. He re, we summarize the types of gene therapy which have been proposed fo r the treatment of cancer and review how currently available delivery systems are suited to each of these individual strategies.