Ex vivo gene therapy using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-transduced tumor vaccines

There is no standard effective therapy for metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) or prostate cancer. Both of these cancers may be immunogenic, so ther apy targeted to a tumor-associated antigen may be effective. Transduction o f the gene encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor has sh own promise in preclinical studies, and clinical trials are in their early stages. Both autologous cancer cells and partially HLA-matched allogenic ce lls are being studied. No dose-limiting side effects have been observed, an d a few patients have had transient objective tumor regressions. Further tr ials with more frequent and, probably, longer immunization schedules are ne eded to define efficacy.