Cancer gene therapy: scientific basis.

Gene therapy of cancer has been one of the most exciting and elusive areas of therapeutic research in the past decade. Critical developments have occurred in gene therapy targeting cancer cells, cancer vasculature, the immune system, and the bone marrow, itself often the target for severe toxicity from therapeutic agents. We review some recent developments in the field. In each instance, clear preclinical models validated the therapeutic approach and efforts have been made to evaluate the target impact in both preclinical and early clinical trials. Although no cures can consistently be expected from today's cancer gene therapy, the rapid progress may imply that such cures are a few short years away.