Gene Regulation And Therapeutics For Cancer

Differential gene regulation and targeted therapy are the critical aspects of several cancers. This book covers specific gene regulation and targeted therapies in different malignancies. It offers a comprehensive assessment of the transcriptional dysregulation in cancer, and considers some examples of transcriptional regulators as definitive oncogenic drivers in solid tumors, followed by a brief discussion of transcriptional effectors of the programs they drive, and discusses its specific targets. Most targeted therapeutics developed to date have been directed against a limited set of oncogenic drivers, exemplified by those encoding cell surface or cytoplasmic kinases that function in intracellular signaling cascades.

Since the discovery of the molecular structure of genes and the unveiling of the molecular basis of numerous human diseases, scientists have been fas- nated with the possibility of treating certain diseases by transducing foreign DNA into the affected cells. Initially, it was proposed that the foreign DNA could either replace defective nonfunctional genes, or code for therapeutic proteins. This concept has evolved into the rapidly growing field of gene therapy. Even though surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are widely ava- able and routinely used for cancer treatment, these therapies fail to cure approximately 50 percent of cancer patients. Therefore, since it is a disease characterized by aberrant gene expression, cancer has been a target of gene therapy research since the inception of this treatment modality. Numerous cancer gene therapy strategies are currently being investigated, including gene replacement therapy, the regulation of gene expression to modulate immu- logical responses to tumors, the direct killing of tumor cells, and direct int- ference with tumor growth. In this context, gene transfer systems, tumor-specific expression vectors, and novel therapeutic genes have been extensively st- ied. All these strategies aim for the selective destruction of human malignant disease while circumventing the destruction of nonmalignant cells and tissues thereby minimizing toxicity to the patient.

Accumulating evidence supports the role of defects in post-transcriptional gene regulation in the development of cancer. RNA and Cancer examines the recent advances in our understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation, especially RNA processing and its role in cancer development and treatment. A particular focus is mRNA splicing, but other topics such as microRNAs, mRNA stability, the perinucleolar compartment, and oligonucleotide therapeutics are also covered in detail. All chapters have been written by internationally renowned experts. The book is intended for all with an interest in gene regulation and cancer biology, and especially for those not directly working on RNA biology, including clinicians and medical students. It is hoped that it will stimulate further innovative research collaborations between RNA biologists and cancer researchers to the benefit of patients.

Cancer gene therapy is a novel therapy that targets the underlying genetic defects in the cancer cell. Progress in this field has been rapid and gene therapy promises to further extend personalized cancer treatment. In this volume leading experts have contributed their experience in developing gene therapies for a variety of cancers. Translational gene therapy approaches are emphasized. Chapters include discussions of specific gene delivery technologies as well as their application to various cancers with extensive discussions of ongoing clinical trials. This information should be useful to both students, fellows, and experienced scientists with an interest in this rapidly developing area.

Gene therapy as a treatment for cancer is at a critical point in its evolution. Exciting new developments in gene targeting and vector technology, coupled with results from the first generation of preclinical and clinical studies have led to the design and testing of new therapeutic approaches. The Third Edition of Gene Therapy of Cancer provides crucial updates on the basic and applied sciences of gene therapy. It offers a comprehensive assessment of the field including the areas of suicide gene therapy, oncogene and suppressor gene targeting, immunotherapy, drug resistance gene therapy, and the genetic modification of stem cells. Researchers at all levels of development, from basic laboratory investigators to clinical practitioners, will find this book to be instructive. Cancer gene therapy, like cancer therapy in general, is evolving rapidly, testing new concepts, targets and pathways, evoking new technologies, and passing new regulatory hurdles. Its essence, however, has not changed: the hope and challenges of returning altered genes to normal, using targeted gene expression to alter the function of both tumor and microenvironment, and in some cases normal cells, and delivering functionally important genes to specific cell types to increase sensitivity to killing or to protect normal cells from cancer therapies. In some instances, gene therapy for cancer forms a continuum from gene repair through the use of molecularly modified cells; the use of viral and non-viral vector based gene delivery to both tumor and tumor microenvironment; the use of viral and gene based vaccines; and development of new gene-based therapeutics. The unique mechanistically chosen vector platforms are at the heart of this technology because they allow for direct and selective cell death and transient to sustained delivery of vaccine molecules or molecules that affect the microenvironment, vasculature, or the immune response. Explains the underlying cancer biology necessary for understanding proposed therapeutic approaches Presents in-depth description of targeting systems and treatment strategies Covers the breadth of gene therapy approaches including immunotherapeutic, drug resistance,oncolytic viruses, as well as regulatory perspectives from both the NCI and FDA

Genes, which are carried on chromosomes, are the basic physical and functional units of heredity. Genes are specific sequences of bases that encode instructions on how to make proteins. Although genes get a lot of attention, it's the proteins that perform most life functions and even make up the majority of cellular structures. When genes are altered so that the encoded proteins are unable to carry out their normal functions, genetic disorders can result. Gene therapy is an experimental treatment that involves introducing genetic material into a person's cells to fight disease. Gene therapy is being studied in clinical trials for many different types of cancer and for numerous other diseases. The volume presents significant new research results in this promising field.

A complete introduction and guide to the latest developments in cancer gene therapy-from bench to bedside. The authors comprehensively review the anticancer genes and gene delivery methods currently available for cancer gene therapy, including the transfer of genetic material into the cancer cells, stimulation of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, and the targeting of the nonmalignant stromal cells that support their growth. They also thoroughly examine the advantages and limitations of the different therapies and detail strategies to overcome obstacles to their clinical implementation. Topics of special interest include vector-targeting techniques, the lessons learned to date from clinical trials of cancer gene therapy, and the regulatory guidelines for future trials. Noninvasive techniques to monitor the extent of gene transfer and disease regression during the course of treatment are also discussed.

Provides expert, state-of-the-art insight into the currentprogress of viral and non-viral gene therapy Translational medicine has opened the gateway to the era ofpersonalized or precision medicine. No longer a one-size-fits-allapproach, the treatment of cancer is now based on an understandingof underlying biologic mechanisms and is increasingly beingtailored to the molecular specificity of a tumor. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the pertinentmolecular discoveries in the cancer field and explains how theseare being used for gene-based cancer therapies. Designed as avolume in the Translational Oncology book series, Cancer GeneTherapy by Viral and Non-viral Vectors deals with the practiceof gene-therapy, with reference to vectors for gene expression andgene transfer, as well as viral therapy. It covers the history andcurrent and future applications of gene transfer in cancer, andprovides expert insight on the progress of viral and non-viral genetherapy with regard to delivery system, vector design, potentialtherapeutic genes, and principles and regulations for cancer genetherapy. Presented in three parts, Cancer Gene Therapy by Viral andNon-viral Vectors covers: Delivery Systems • Translational Cancer Research: Gene Therapy by Viraland Non-viral Vectors • Retroviruses for Cancer Therapy • DNA Plasmids for Non-viral Gene Therapy ofCancer • Cancer Therapy with RNAi delivered by Non-viralMembrane/Core Nanoparticles Targeted Expression • Cancer Gene Therapy by Tissue-specific andCancer-targeting Promptors • MicroRNAs as Drugs and Drug Targets in Cancer Principles of Clinical Trials in Gene Therapy • Regulatory issues for Manufacturers of Viral Vectorsand Vector-transduced Cells for Phase I/II Trials • US Regulations Governing Clinical Trials in GeneTherapy • Remaining Obstacles to the Success of Cancer GeneTherapy Focusing on speeding the process in clinical cancer care bybringing therapies as quickly as possible from bench to bedside,Cancer Gene Therapy by Viral and Non-viral Vectors is anabsolutely vital book for physicians, clinicians, researchers, andstudents involved in this area of medicine.