J Korean Neurosurg Soc.
1996 Sep;25(9):1815-1819.
Molecular Approaches for Brain Tumor Therapy;Gene Transfer and Anti-sense Oligonucleotides
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Despite advances in neurosurgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with malignant brain tumors still remains grim. Considerable efforts have been made to develop new therapeutic strategies for malignant brain tumors. One of the promising new therapies for brain tumors is an intervention at molecular level, and several molecular approaches have been shown to have in vitro and in vivo activities. These include the use of retroviral vectors, herpes simplex viruses, adenoviral vectors in gene transfer, and antisense vectors and oligonucleotides. Preclinical studies of retroviral vector have already been extended to clinical trials, clearly demonstrating the clinical potential of these molecular therapies. Here, I discuss the current status of molecular therapy for brain tumors together with future directions for its development.