Gene therapy of gynaecological diseases

Abstract

Gene therapy represents a potentially useful approach for the treatment of diseases refractory to conventional therapies. Various preclinical and clinical strategies have been explored for treatment of gynaecological diseases. Given the most severe unmet clinical need, much of the work has been performed with gynaecological cancers and ovarian cancer in particular. Although the safety of many treatment strategies has been demonstrated in early phase clinical trials, efficacy has been mostly limited heretofore. Major challenges include improving the vectors used with the aim of more effective and selective delivery. In addition, effective penetration into and spreading within advanced and complex tumour masses and metastases remains challenging. This review focuses on existing and developmental gene transfer applications for gynaecological diseases.

Keywords::

• cervical cancer
• gene therapy
• gene transfer
• gynaecological disease
• ovarian cancer
• virotherapy

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by EU FP6 THERADPOX and APOTHERAPY, Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Funds (EVO), Academy of Finland, Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Finnish Cancer Society, Finnish Cultural Foundation, University of Helsinki, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Helsinki Biomedical Graduate School and Finnish Oncology Association. A Hemminki is K Albin Johansson Research Professor of the Finnish Cancer Institute.

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