Enzymes to die for: exploiting nucleotide metabolizing enzymes for cancer gene therapy.

ABSTRACT: Suicide gene therapy is an attractive strategy to selectively destroy cancer cells while minimizing unnecessary toxicity to normal cells. Since this idea was first introduced more than two decades ago, numerous studies have been conducted and significant developments have been made to further its application for mainstream cancer therapy. Major limitations of the suicide gene therapy strategy that have hindered its clinical application include inefficient directed delivery to cancer cells and the poor prodrug activation capacity of suicide enzymes. This review is focused on efforts that have been and are currently being pursued to improve the activity of individual suicide enzymes towards their respective prodrugs with particular attention to the application of nucleotide metabolizing enzy

SUBMITTER: Ardiani A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3551574 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature