Title:Non-viral Delivery Systems for the Application in p53 Cancer Gene Therapy
Volume: 22
Issue: 35
Author(s): Kai Wang, Qian Huang, Fuming Qiu and Meihua Sui
Affiliation:
Keywords:
p53, gene therapy, non-viral vectors, cancer, combination therapy.
Abstract: A key barrier to the development of gene therapy remains the lack of safe, efficient
and easily controllable vehicles for gene delivery. The fundamental problems associated
with the viral vehicles, e.g. lack of specificity and immunogenic potential, have driven
the development of non-viral systems of gene delivery. In the last decade, studies on p53 gene replacement
therapy have dominated the literature. Although clinical trials of p53 gene therapy have achieved limited success,
it remains the only tumor suppressor gene to be evaluated formally in clinical trials for cancer treatment,
with increasing focus on delivery using non-viral systems. In this article, we particularly review current investigations
on p53 gene delivery using non-viral methods, including both physical and chemical approaches,
with an emphasis on the latter. The existing opportunities and challenges for successful p53 cancer gene therapy
are also discussed.
