Technology evaluation: anticancer gene therapy, MediGene.

MediGene is developing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors for the potential treatment of cancer, and in particular, melanoma and ovarian cancer [304021]. In June 2001, MediGene and its collaborator Aventis Pharma announced the start of a phase I/II trial for a vaccine against malignant melanoma [413513]. The therapy works by boosting the patient's immune response. Autologous or allogeneic tumor cells are transduced with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors, which express immunomodulators, such as cytokines, and are then expanded in vitro. Following irradiation, these gene-modified cells are reintroduced to the host, leading to a specific antitumor response against the patient's own tumor cells [221820].