Review
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2006; 12(43): 6941-6948
Published online Nov 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i43.6941
Cancer gene therapy targeting angiogenesis: An updated Review
Ching-Chiu Liu, Zan Shen, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Marie CM Lin
Ching-Chiu Liu, Zan Shen, Marie CM Lin, Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
Hsiang-Fu Kung, Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by grant from the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR to HFK and MCL (ITS/084/03), AoE scheme of UGC, and from Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences to HFK
Correspondence to: Dr. Marie CM Lin, Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Rm 8N11, Kadoorie Biological Science Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. mcllin@hkusua.hku.hk
Telephone: +852-22990776 Fax: +852-28171006
Received: March 24, 2006
Revised: September 15, 2006
Accepted: September 20, 2006
Published online: November 21, 2006
Abstract

Since the relationship between angiogenesis and tumor growth was established by Folkman in 1971, scientists have made efforts exploring the possibilities in treating cancer by targeting angiogenesis. Inhibition of angiogenesis growth factors and administration of angiogenesis inhibitors are the basics of anti-angiogenesis therapy. Transfer of anti-angiogenesis genes has received attention recently not only because of the advancement of recombinant vectors, but also because of the localized and sustained expression of therapeutic gene product inside the tumor after gene transfer. This review provides the up-to-date information about the strategies and the vectors studied in the field of anti-angiogenesis cancer gene therapy.

Keywords: Anti-angiogenesis; Tumor growth; Cancer gene therapy