Angiogenisis Targeted Gene Therapy
Abstract
The growth of most solid tumors, including breast carcinoma, is highly dependent of the development of vascular structures to support the increasing need of the tumor for nutrients and oxygen, a process called angiogenesis. In adults, physiologic angiogenesis occurs only during limited times thus making angiogenesis a rather tumor-selective process, and therefore, a promising therapeutic target for cancer therapy. It has been recently demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), or angioblasts, can be easily detected and isolated from the peripheral blood of adult mice and humans. It can be shown that following systemic injection into the circulation of an animal, EPCs can migrate to areas of angiogenesis. We, therefore, hypothesized that EPCs, first transduced in vitro with a prodrug activating or anti-angiogenic gene and then re-injected back into the host, could be utilized as a selective tumor targeting "vector" by migrating into, and delivering the therapeutic gene to areas of tumor-associated angiogenesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA385354
Entities
People
- Howard A. Fine
Organizations
- Dana–Farber Cancer Institute