Gene Therapy & Liver Cancer Treatment

Over the past decade tumor immunology and gene therapy have made substantial advances. Now there is significant grounds supporting the rationale of gene therapy-focused liver cancer vaccines by replacing or inactivating mutated genes.

Significance

• Nature Cancer Gene Therapy magazine published a paper that shows cancerous cells in the liver are great marks for gene therapy utilizing adenoviral vectors (gene transfer agents), based on an important understanding of the differences between normal liver cells and cancerous cells.

Identification

• The p53 gene is a frequently changed tumor suppressor gene in liver cancers. When liver cells are normal, it helps cells fix damage to their DNA and prevents excessive growth; when DNA damage becomes too much to be restored, it encourages cell death.

Features

• The hepatoma (liver tumor) is developed from chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Gene therapy uses vectors (carriers) to deliver normal DNA to the target liver cell to restore it back to normal

Treatment

• Some liver cancer treatment options include surgery, liver transplant, tumor ablation and embolization, chemotherapy, radiation treatment and targeted therapy.

Considerations

• Gene therapy is an experimental field that continues to evolve, offering interesting opportunities for liver cancer treatment. This field still has limitations but is addressing key issues to solve them.