Suicide gene therapy for prostate cancer using a replication-deficient adenovirus containing the herpesvirus thymidine kinase gene

Current therapies for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatecto my, local radiation therapy, and cryoablation and are associated with a hig h rate of cure and acceptable morbidity. However, for men who have failed p rimary curative attempts or have metastatic disease, no effective therapy a ssociated with acceptable morbidity exists. "Suicide" gene therapy delivere d alone or in combination with other forms of treatment could potentially p rovide simultaneous efficacy against localized and systemic disease via the generation of cytotoxic activity and/or systemic immunity to the cancer. I n this article we discuss our preclinical and clinical experience with a he rpes-simplex-virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir gene-therapy protocol for p rostate cancer.