Abstract
Recent progress in molecular genetics and improvement in the understanding of immune responses to tumors have generated an interest in using gene-based therapy for the treatment of cancers. Several basic strategies have emerged so far but one of the most popular approaches currently under development is immuno-gene therapy. Since melanomas are often immunogenic and salient aspects of their immunology are known, malignant melanoma is a promising target for immuno-gene therapy.
This article reviews the published gene transfer studies and summarizes the most recent data of clinical trials of gene therapy for patients with melanoma.
Clinical trials in the US and European countries have shown the feasibility and safety of gene therapy against melanoma. Although no major successes have been reported, positive results, which include the enhancements of systemic anti-tumor cellular and/or humoral responses, have been observed in some patients. These data support the potential of gene therapy in the management of melanoma. Better vector technology, including in vivo delivery and targeting, as well as coping with immunological escape phenomena would provide the tools to validate gene therapy as an effective modality of treatment for malignant melanoma. [Skin Cancer (Japan) 2004; 19: 34-40]
