Current role of gene therapy in head and neck cancer

Our increasing knowledge of cancer molecular biology has led to the develop ment of new genetic therapies for the treatment of cancer. Such therapies a re advantageous in that they can selectively target tumour tissue leaving n ormal tissue relatively unaffected. In squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, such therapies may be beneficial in the treatment of loco-regional r ecurrence, minimal residual disease and in the treatment of distant metasta tic disease. This article describes the principles of cancer gene therapy a nd reviews some early clinical trials of gene therapy in head and neck canc er. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.