Gene therapy for prostate cancer

Basic research continues to unravel the molecular complexity of normal and abnormal biologic processes. The development of means to affect the expression level of genes that promote or contribute to cellular transformation, invasion, and metastasis has spawned the concept of gene therapy. This relatively new field seeks to reverse or suspend the pathologic progression of a variety of diseases including the malignant transfor-mation of prostatic epithelial cells. Initial clinical trials for prostate cancer have thus far shown gene therapy to be relatively safe, although definitive evidence of durable therapeutic efficacy remains to be demonstrated. In this article, recent preclinical research, current therapeutic strategies, and recent results of gene therapy clinical trials for the treatment of prostate cancer are reviewed. © 2001, Current Science Inc.