High Gene Delivery Efficiency Research Articles

Acid-cleavable ketal containing poly(β-amino ester) for enhanced siRNA delivery

The safe and effective intracellular delivery of nucleic acids remains the most challenging obstacle to the broad application of gene therapy in clinic. Endosomal escape of nucleic acids is also a major barrier for efficient gene delivery. Ketal linkage is known to readily cleave at the acidic pH of endosomal compartments. Here, we report ketal containing poly(β-amino ester) (KPAE) as an acid-cleavable non-viral siRNA delivery system. KPAE efficiently condensed siRNA into nanocomplexes with a diameter of ≈ 150 nm, which are stable under neutral conditions but rapidly dissociate to release siRNA at acidic pH. KPAE had a buffering capacity due to the presence of secondary amines in its backbone, confirmed by acid-base titration. Moreover, the studies of confocal fluorescence imaging using calcein and LysoTracker Red revealed that KPAE disrupted endosomes by colloid osmotic mechanism and "proton sponge" effects. Cell culture studies demonstrated that KPAE can deliver tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) siRNA to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and significantly inhibit the expression of TNF-α. The results demonstrate that acid-cleavable KPAE has great potential as gene delivery systems based on its excellent biocompatibility, pH sensitivity and high gene delivery efficiency.

Transendocardial Delivery of HGF Via Microbubbles and Ultrasound to Treat Acute Myocardial Infarction

To enhance the safety of transendocardial delivery and the efficacy of intramyocardial angiogenic gene expression, a visible, less invasive, targeted, high-efficiency gene delivery strategy was tested. Progress toward clinical approval of systemic administration of genes and microbubbles (MBs) has been limited. The feasibility of transendocardially delivering MBs as extracellular markers and gene carriers in conjunction with intracardiac ultrasound (US) treatment remains unknown. In a canine acute myocardial infarction (MI) model, a naked plasmid encoding 500 μg human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was delivered transendocardially to the myocardium via US/MB (HGF-US/MB), insonation (HGFUS), or alone (HGF alone). Control MI dogs received saline without US/MB (control group). During US/MB, intracardiac insonation was performed for 30 s with a 10-s pause, at 4.3-MHz, 1-W/cm(2), for 60 s at each site. Gene and MB distribution in the myocardium was visualized. Compared to the HGF alone group at 28 days, the HGF-US/MB group had an average 7.1-fold enhancement in gene expression (P < 0.01). Compared to the control group, there were 16% decreases in the ratio of left ventricle (LV) weight/body weight in the HGF-US/MB group and decreases in collagen volume fraction (CVF) of type I (33%) and type III (23%) collagen. Capillary density increased from 22.8 ± 6.3/mm(2) in the control group to 154.3 ± 42.9/mm(2) in the HGF-US/MB group (P < 0.01). This less invasive catheter-based US therapeutic procedure offers observable gene delivery with higher therapeutic efficiency, enhanced angiogenesis, and improved myocardial perfusion and ventricular function following MI.

A nonviral pHEMA+chitosan nanosphere-mediated high-efficiency gene delivery system

The transport of DNA into eukaryotic cells is minimal because of the cell membrane barrier, and this limits the application of DNA vaccines, gene silencing, and gene therapy. Several available transfection reagents and techniques have been used to circumvent this problem. Alternatively, nonviral nanoscale vectors have been shown to bypass the eukaryotic cell membrane. In the present work, we developed a unique nanomaterial, pHEMA+chitosan nanospheres (PCNSs), which consisted of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanospheres surrounded by a chitosan cationic shell, and we used this for encapsulation of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F gene construct (a model for a DNA vaccine). The new nanomaterial was capable of transfecting various eukaryotic cell lines without the use of a commercial transfection reagent. Using transmission electron microscopy, (TEM), fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), and immunofluorescence, we clearly demonstrated that the positively charged PCNSs were able to bind to the negatively charged cell membrane and were taken up by endocytosis, in Cos-7 cells. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we also evaluated the efficiency of transfection achieved with PCNSs and without the use of a liposomal-based transfection mediator, in Cos-7, HEp-2, and Vero cells. To assess the transfection efficiency of the PCNSs in vivo, these novel nanomaterials containing RSV-F gene were injected intramuscularly into BALB/c mice, resulting in high copy number of the transgene. In this study, we report, for the first time, the application of the PCNSs as a nanovehicle for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo.

MC8 Peptide-Mediated Her-2 Receptor Targeting Based on PEI-β-CyD as Gene Delivery Vector

A novel vector with high gene delivery efficiency and special cell targeting ability was developed using a good strategy that utilized low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI; molecular weight, 600 KDa [PEI600]) cross-linked to β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) via a facile synthetic route. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) are highly expressed in a variety of human cancer cells and are potential targets for cancer therapy. MC8 peptides, which have been proven to combine especially with Her-2 on cell membranes were coupled to PEI-β-CyD using N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate as a linker. The ratios of PEI600, β-CyD, and peptide were calculated based on proton integral values obtained from the (1)H-NMR spectra of the resulting products. Electron microscope observations showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD can efficiently condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles of about 200 nm, and MTT assays suggested the decreased toxicity of the polymer. Experiments on gene delivery efficiency in vitro showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD/pDNA polyplexes had significantly greater transgene activities than PEI-β-CyD/pDNA in the Skov3 and A549 cells, which positively expressed Her-2, whereas, no such effect was observed in the MCF-7 cells, which negatively expressed Her-2. Our current research indicated that the synthesized nonviral vector shows improved gene delivery efficiency and targeting specificity in Her-2 positive cells.

Advances in Gene Delivery Systems.

The transfer of genes into cells, both in vitro and in vivo, is critical for studying gene function and conducting gene therapy. Methods that utilize viral and nonviral vectors, as well as physical approaches, have been explored. Viral vector-mediated gene transfer employs replication-deficient viruses such as retro-virus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and herpes simplex virus. A major advantage of viral vectors is their high gene delivery efficiency. The nonviral vectors developed so far include cationic liposomes, cationic polymers, synthetic peptides and naturally occurring compounds. These nonviral vectors appear to be highly effective in gene delivery to cultured cells in vitro but are significantly less effective in vivo. Physical methods utilize mechanical pressure, electric shock or hydrodynamic force to transiently permeate the cell membrane to transfer DNA into target cells. They are simpler than viral- and nonviral-based systems and highly effective for localized gene delivery. The past decade has seen significant efforts to establish the most desirable method for safe, effective and target-specific gene delivery, and good progress has been made. The objectives of this review are to (i) explain the rationale for the design of viral, nonviral and physical methods for gene delivery; (ii) provide a summary on recent advances in gene transfer technology; (iii) discuss advantages and disadvantages of each of the most commonly used gene delivery methods; and (iv) provide future perspectives.

Poloxamer synperonic F108 improves cellular transduction with lentiviral vectors

Although lentiviral transduction methods are widely used, their broader application is dependent upon the optimization of lentiviral transduction efficiency for a broad range of cell types. In the present study, we focus on the evaluation of two chemical classes with respect to their ability to increase lentiviral transduction without cytotoxicity. We compared the activity of adjuvants that are already used for lentivirus delivery with that of novel adjuvants selected on the basis of their chemical and physical characteristics. The novel poloxamer synperonic F108 demonstrated superior characteristics for enhancing lentiviral transduction over the best-in-class polybrene-assisted transduction. The results revealed that poloxamer synperonic F108 exhibited the dual benefits of low toxicity and a high efficiency of lentiviral gene delivery into a range of different primary cell cultures. In the presence of poloxamer synperonic F108, cells showed an increased propidium dye influx indicating a re-organization of membrane microstructures accompanying lentivirus uptake. The administration of a mixture of poloxamer synperonic F108 with polybrene further enhanced lentiviral transduction rates. The results obtained in the present study indicate that a contribution to efficiency is made by each adjuvant, with polybrene acting as a charge protector and poloxamer synperonic F108 as a membrane modulator. Therefore, poloxamer synperonic F108, either alone or in combination, can lead to the optimization of large-scale lentiviral transduction approaches.

Grafting of Cell-Penetrating Peptide to Receptor-Targeted Liposomes Improves their Transfection Efficiency and Transport across Blood–Brain Barrier Model

We report bifunctional liposomal delivery system, combining transferrin (Tf)-mediated receptor targeting and poly-L-arginine (PR)-facilitated cell penetration, which overcomes the drawback of saturation of delivery. PR was conjugated to the distal end of distearoyl phosphoethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2000 and was incorporated with other phospholipids in chloroform/methanol (2:1) to form PR liposomes using thin-film hydration technique. Tf-PEG phospholipid micelles were incorporated into PR liposomes using postinsertion technique to form Tf-PR liposomes. The bifunctional liposomes demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) higher cellular uptake by brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3) and about eightfold higher transfection in primary culture of glial cells as compared with the Tf liposomes. Cell viabilities of Tf-conjugated and bifunctional liposomes were not markedly different; however, transport across in vitro blood-brain barrier model improved considerably after dual modification. The study underlines the potential of bifunctional liposomes as high-efficiency and low-toxicity gene delivery system for the treatment of central nervous system disorders.

FGF Receptor-Mediated Gene Delivery Using Ligands Coupled to PEI-β-CyD

A novel vector with high gene delivery efficiency and special cell-targeting ability was developed using a good strategy that utilized low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine (PEI; molecular weight: 600 KDa [PEI600]) crosslinked to β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) via a facile synthetic route. Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are highly expressed in a variety of human cancer cells and are potential targets for cancer therapy. In this paper, CY11 peptides, which have been proven to combine especially with FGFRs on cell membranes were coupled to PEI-β-CyD using N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate as a linker. The ratios of PEI600, β-CyD, and peptide were calculated based on proton integral values obtained from the 1H-NMR spectra of the resulting products. Electron microscope observations showed that CY11-PEI-β-CyD can efficiently condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles of about 200 nm, and MTT assays suggested the decreased toxicity of the polymer. Experiments on gene delivery efficiency in vitro showed that CY11-PEI-β-CyD/pDNA polyplexes had significantly greater transgene activities than PEI-β-CyD/pDNA in the COS-7 and HepG2 cells, which positively expressed FGFR, whereas no such effect was observed in the PC-3 cells, which negatively expressed FGFR. Our current research indicated that the synthesized nonviral vector shows improved gene delivery efficiency and targeting specificity in FGFR-positive cells.

Dexamethasone-loaded peptide micelles for delivery of the heme oxygenase-1 gene to ischemic brain

The R3V6 peptides, which are composed of a 3-arginine block and a 6-valine block, formed self-assembled micelles in aqueous solution. Dye quenching assays showed that a hydrophobic fluorescent dye, 5-dodecanoylaminofluorescein (DAF), interacted with and was loaded into the hydrophobic core of the micelles. In this study, dexamethasone-loaded R3V6 peptide micelles (R3V6-Dexa) were evaluated as a gene carrier. R3V6-Dexa had higher gene delivery efficiency in human embryonic kidney 293 cells compared to those of the R3V6 peptides and poly-l-lysine (PLL). Dexamethasone might stabilize the micelle structure of the R3V6 peptides by forming strong hydrophobic cores and enhanced the transfection efficiency. Furthermore, R3V6-Dexa reduced the expression of an inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), more efficiently in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw264.7 cells than did dexamethasone, suggesting that R3V6-Dexa is also a useful carrier for dexamethasone delivery. A focal brain ischemia-reperfusion model was produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression plasmid DNA, pSV-HO-1, was delivered into the brain using R3V6-Dexa as a carrier. The pSV-HO-1/R3V6-Dexa complex was injected into the brain 1hr prior to MCAO. Twenty-four hours later, the HO-1 expression of the pSV-HO-1/R3V6-Dexa injection group was higher than those of the MCAO control, pβ-Luc/R3V6-Dexa, and pSV-HO-1/PEI25k injection groups. In addition, the infarct size was reduced due to the delivery of pSV-HO-1/R3V6-Dexa complex. Therefore, R3V6-Dexa may be a useful carrier for HO-1 gene delivery and stroke gene therapy.

Immobilization of gene vectors on bisphosphonate-mediated gene-eluting metal stents using antibody for localized gene delivery

Summary A metal stent that could elute plasmid DNA ( p DNA) for substrate-mediated gene transfection was fabricated by first coating with polyallylamine bisphosphonate (PAA-BP) and subsequent deposition of p DNA. To create a p DNA coating layer on the stent surface, anti-DNA antibody was chemically coupled on the PAA-BP coating. PAA-BP was conjugated to IgM by covalent cross-linking with N-succinimidyl-3(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP). In cell culture studies, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transfected cells were only found on the stent, which demonstrated high localization and efficient gene delivery.

Advances in Gene Delivery Systems

The transfer of genes into cells, both in vitro and in vivo, is critical for studying gene function and conducting gene therapy. Methods that utilize viral and nonviral vectors, as well as physical approaches, have been explored. Viral vector-mediated gene transfer employs replication-deficient viruses such as retrovirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and herpes simplex virus. A major advantage of viral vectors is their high gene delivery efficiency. The nonviral vectors developed so far include cationic liposomes, cationic polymers, synthetic peptides and naturally occurring compounds. These nonviral vectors appear to be highly effective in gene delivery to cultured cells in vitro but are significantly less effective in vivo. Physical methods utilize mechanical pressure, electric shock or hydrodynamic force to transiently permeate the cell membrane to transfer DNA into target cells. They are simpler than viral- and nonviral-based systems and highly effective for localized gene delivery. The past decade has seen significant efforts to establish the most desirable method for safe, effective and target-specific gene delivery, and good progress has been made. The objectives of this review are to (i) explain the rationale for the design of viral, nonviral and physical methods for gene delivery; (ii) provide a summary on recent advances in gene transfer technology; (iii) discuss advantages and disadvantages of each of the most commonly used gene delivery methods; and (iv) provide future perspectives.

A visible, targeted high-efficiency gene delivery and transfection strategy

BackgroundTo enhance myocardial angiogenic gene expression, a novel gene delivery strategy was tested. Direct intramyocardial injection of an angiogenic gene with microbubbles and insonation were applied in a dog animal model. Dogs received one of the four different treatments in conjunction with either the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene or the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene: gene with microbubbles (MB) and ultrasound (US); gene with US; gene with MB; or the gene alone.ResultsDistribution of MB and the gene in the myocardium was visualized during the experiment. Compared with the EGFP gene group, an average 14.7-fold enhancement in gene expression was achieved in the EGFP+MB/US group (P < 0.01). Compared with the HGF gene group, an average 10.7-fold enhancement in gene expression was achieved in the HGF+MB/US group (P < 0.01). In addition, capillary density increased from 20.8 ± 3.4/mm2 in the HGF gene group to 146.7 ± 31.4/mm2 in HGF+MB/US group (P < 0.01).ConclusionsThus, direct intramyocardial injection of an angiogenic gene in conjunction with microbubbles plus insonation synergistically enhances angiogenesis. This method offers an observable gene delivery procedure with enhanced expression efficiency of the delivered gene.

Efficient gene delivery into fish cells by an improved recombinant baculovirus

Studies on transduction of mammalian cells have shown that baculovirus can be used as an effective vector for gene delivery. However, previous studies have found the gene delivery efficiency to be very low in differentiated fish cells. In this study, an improved recombinant baculovirus, containing cytomegalovirus immediate-early (CMV-IE) promoter and an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene as the reporter gene, was constructed. The transduction efficiency of recombinant baculovirus in several fish cell lines was measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and the persistence of EGFP was monitored by fluorescence microscopy. The results demonstrated that baculovirus can mediate the high efficiency of gene delivery into differentiated fish cells. Furthermore, it was found that growth medium is superior to PBS as the surrounding solution to enhance the transduction efficiency in some fish cells. In addition, transgene expression can persist for a lengthy period in fish cells, and attained highest level several days later after transduction. This study suggest that the improved recombinant baculovirus can be an excellent gene delivery vector for fish cells and also providing new insights into the transduction of vertebrate cells with baculovirus.

Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly Vectors for Gene Delivery

The success of gene therapy largely relies on the development of high-efficient and low-toxic gene delivery vectors. Nanovector-based delivery of nucleic acids is a very promising approach for the effective transfer of genetic materials into cells. Compared with encapsulating of nucleic acids inside biodegradable nanoparticles which often suffers from low encapsulation efficiency and degradation of the loaded therapeutic gene, the layer-by-layer self-assembly vectors prepared by the surface adsorption of gene/polycation multilayered films on colloidal particles using layer-by-layer technique are a potent gene delivery system in offering efficient loading of nucleic acids, controlling the release of the loaded gene in physiological environment and targeting to a particular site or a specific cell type in the body. This review focuses on the preparation, advantages, application and the probable associated drawbacks of layer-by-layer self-assembly vectors for gene delivery.

Preparation of Dexamethasone-Based Cationic Liposome and Its Application to Gene Delivery In Vitro

In this study, dexamethasone was conjugated to PAMAM dendrimer (generation 0) and its gene transfection efficiency was investigated. To make a liposomal solution for gene delivery, DOPE was used as a fusogenic helper lipid. In gel retardation assay, PAMAM-dexamethasone conjugate (PAM-Dex)/DOPE liposome/DNA complex was completely retarded at 8:1 N/P (nitrogen/phosphate) ratio. The physicochemical characteristics are studied by measuring the average size distribution and zeta-potential values of the complexes. In vitro transfection assay showed that the PAM-Dex/DOPE liposome/DNA complex displayed higher gene delivery efficiency compared to PAMAM/DNA complex. In addition, PAM-Dex/DOPE liposome showed the lowest toxicity compared to PAMAM, PEI 25 kD and Lipofectamine. These results indicate that PAM-Dex/DOPE liposome has a potential to be used as an efficient gene carrier for gene therapy.

High-Efficiency Transduction of Fibroblasts and Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Tyrosine-Mutant AAV2 Vectors for Their Potential Use in Cellular Therapy

Adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) vectors transduce fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) inefficiently, which limits their potential widespread applicability in combinatorial gene and cell therapy. We have reported that AAV2 vectors fail to traffic efficiently to the nucleus in murine fibroblasts. We have also reported that site-directed mutagenesis of surface-exposed tyrosine residues on viral capsids leads to improved intracellular trafficking of the mutant vectors, and the transduction efficiency of the single tyrosine-mutant vectors is ∼10-fold higher in human cells. In the current studies, we evaluated the transduction efficiency of single as well as multiple tyrosine-mutant AAV2 vectors in murine fibroblasts. Our results indicate that the Y444F mutant vectors transduce these cells most efficiently among the seven single-mutant vectors, with >30-fold increase in transgene expression compared with the wild-type vectors. When the Y444F mutation is combined with additional mutations (Y500F and Y730F), the transduction efficiency of the triple-mutant vectors is increased by ∼130-fold and the viral intracellular trafficking is also significant improved. Similarly, the triple-mutant vectors are capable of transducing up to 80-90% of bone marrow-derived primary murine as well as human MSCs. Thus, high-efficiency transduction of fibroblasts with reprogramming genes to generate induced pluripotent stem cells, and the MSCs for delivering therapeutic genes, should now be feasible with the tyrosine-mutant AAV vectors.

Investigation of gene transferring efficacy through nano-polyplex consisting of methylated N-(4-pyridinylmethyl) chitosan chloride and poly(ethylenimine) in human cell lines

In this study, gene transfection efficiencies using nano-polyplex as gene carriers were investigated in a variety of human cell lines. Gene carriers were prepared using cationic polymer methylated N-(4-pyridinylmethyl) chitosan chloride (MPyMeChC) and/or poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) to form polyplex via electrostatic interaction with 1 μg of plasmid pGL-3-basic containing CMV promoter/enhancer at different weight ratios. Polyplex formations were confirmed by gel retardation assay. The result suggested that packaging of DNA in PEI-containing polyplexes occurred without interference of DNA integrity. Both size and zeta-potential were increased when PEI was incorporated in polyplex. In vitro transfection was performed in three different cell lines which are a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), a human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line (A549) and a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). The results revealed that transfection profiles were different among the three cell lines which indicated that transfection efficiency through MPyMeChC/PEI polyplex was cell-type dependent. A synergistic effect of MPyMeChC/PEI polyplex was found in HeLa cells with the maximum transfection efficiency at a weight ratio of 1/0.5/1 providing 95% cell viability, approximately. Our study demonstrated an alternative carrier in a non-viral gene delivery system which is able to promote high gene delivery efficiency with low cytotoxicity in human cell lines.

Development of a Novel Nonviral Gene Silencing System That Is Effective Both in Vitro and in Vivo by Using a Star-Shaped Block Copolymer (Star Vector)

The objective of our study was to develop a novel nonviral gene silencing system using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) complexes using star vector (SV), which is a star-shaped, four-branched, cationic-nonionic-blocked copolymer, as the water-soluble delivery system. This vector was previously designed as a carrier for high-efficiency gene delivery of plasmid DNA. The lamin gene was used as the target for developing siRNAs. SV was shown to condense and interact with siRNAs to yield SV/siRNA polyion complexes with a diameter of ca. 90 nm and having considerable stability. By using these complexes, siRNA was successfully delivered to almost all human hepatocellular carcinoma cells used in this study, and both siRNAs and shRNAs could produce significant gene silencing in these cells without affecting cell viability. The silencing efficacy of these complexes was similar to that of commercially available high-efficiency siRNA transfection reagent (Darmafect-4). After injecting SV/siRNA complexes into mice, effective gene silencing was also observed in vivo in the liver and lung, suggesting that the SV/siRNA complexes were stable under in vivo conditions, and their transfection efficiency was retained after intravenous administration. Thus, SV was a potential carrier for siRNA and shRNA delivery in both in vitro and in vivo conditions; this finding suggests that it may offer a new clinical therapeutic approach in gene therapy.

Establishment of medakafish as a model for stem cell-based gene therapy: Efficient gene delivery and potential chromosomal integration by baculoviral vectors

Viral vectors hold promise and challenges in gene therapy. Specifically, we have previously shown that baculoviral (BV) vectors have a high efficiency of gene delivery in human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Here we report the development of a complementary system to further our evaluation by utilizing the laboratory fish medaka that has ES cell lines and tools for experimental analyses in vitro and in vivo. We show that BV vectors can give rise to almost 100% of transient gene delivery in the medaka ES cell line MES1. BV-transduced MES1 cells reproducibly (at approximately 10 − 5 ) produce GFP-expressing colonies that, upon manual isolation, develop into stable clones during 300 days of culture. Surprisingly, BV transduction can also mediate efficient gene integration in the medaka genome, as fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed the presence of the BV-delivered gfp transgene in multiple locations in nuclei and on various chromosomes of metaphase spreads. We show that BV transduction does not compromise the genome stability and pluripotency of MES1 cells. We conclude that BV can efficiently mediate gene delivery and chromosomal integration in medaka ES cells. Therefore, medaka provides a powerful system for analyzing the potential of BV-mediated gene delivery in stem cells and gene therapy.

Viral Vectors in Cancer Immunotherapy: Which Vector for Which Strategy?

Gene therapy involves the transfer of genetic information to a target cell to facilitate the production of therapeutic proteins and is now a realistic prospect as a cancer treatment. Gene transfer may be achieved through the use of both viral and non-viral delivery methods and the role of this method in the gene therapy of cancer has been demonstrated. Viruses represent an attractive vehicle for cancer gene therapy due to their high efficiency of gene delivery. Many viruses can mediate long term gene expression, while some are also capable of infecting both dividing and non-dividing cells. Given the broadly differing capabilities of various viral vectors, it is imperative that the functionality of the virus meets the requirements of the specific treatment. A number of immunogene therapy strategies have been undertaken, utilising a range of viral vectors, and studies carried out in animal models and patients have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of viral vectors to carry genes to cancer cells and induce anti-tumour immune responses. This review critically discusses the advances in the viral vector mediated delivery of immunostimulatory molecules directly to tumour cells, the use of viral vectors to modify tumour cells, the creation of whole cell vaccines and the direct delivery of tumour antigens in animal models and clinical trials, specifically in the context of the suitability of vector types for specific strategies.