GENE-THERAPY FOR PROSTATE-CANCER

The treatment options for the patient with advanced prostate cancer ar e limited. Due to the recent advances in the understanding of the mole cular biology of prostate cancer, the easy accessibility of the gland for injection, and the availability of gene promoters that can provide tissue specific expression of therapeutic gene sequences, gene therap y for prostate cancer is rapidly advancing. Many potential approaches for prostate cancer gene therapy have been identified, with a few of t hese already entering Phase I clinical trials. This review will discus s the basis of prostate cancer gene therapy, look at the potential app roaches, and will compare the different vectors that can be used to de liver the therapeutic genes to the prostate tumor.