Targeted gene-delivery strategies for angiostatic cancer treatment

Trends Mol Med. 2007 May;13(5):200-9. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2007.03.001. Epub 2007 Mar 26.

Abstract

Gene therapy is one of the promising strategies in cancer treatment. Recent studies identified molecular targets on angiogenically activated endothelial cells that can be used to deliver gene-transfer vehicles to the tumor site specifically. Furthermore, non-viral vehicles are emerging as an alternative for traditional viral gene-therapy approaches. Here, we describe how viral and non-viral gene-transfer vehicles have been and can be modified to target tumor endothelial cells for anti-angiogenesis gene therapy. Improving the specificity and safety of existing gene-therapy vehicles will make angiogenesis-targeted cancer gene therapy a valuable tool in the clinical setting.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Carriers / therapeutic use
  • Gene Targeting / methods*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy*
  • Viruses / genetics

Substances

  • Drug Carriers