The potential role of gene therapy in the treatment of bladder cancer

Based on understanding the molecular mechanism of bladder carcinogenesis, c ancer gene therapy may well become a novel therapy in the near future. Curr ently, a viral vector system appears to be a better vehicle to deliver gene s into target cells. Exploring different therapeutic strategies has generat ed promising results from preclinical bladder cancer models. Phase I clinic al trials are underway to study the feasibility of this treatment for human bladder cancer patients. However, several potential problems associated wi th effective gene delivery need to be further refined.