Cancer therapy by gene therapy with angiostatin.

Abstract

Angiostatin, an internal fragment of plasminogen, has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis. A new area of cancer research that has generated excitement is the use of angiostatin to treat cancer. Angiostatin protein therapy has not been pursued because current technology is inadequate to manufacture the needed biologically active proteins in sufficient quantities. It is sufficient for effective therapy with angiostatin to establish angiostatin production in the vicinity of tumors by gene transfer of angiostatin cDNA. There are various methods by which to transfer angiostatin cDNA. One way is to use a viral vector to incorporate the gene into cells. Another way is to use nonviral vectors. In this review, evidence accumulated from many laboratories suggests that angiostatin gene therapy may be an important new cancer therapy as an adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrence. (c) 2001 Prous Science. All rights reserved.