Gene Therapy for Brain Tumors.

Despite advances in surgical techniques as well as radiation- and chemotherapies, the prognosis for patients diagnosed with malignant gliomas still remains dismal with a mean survival of only 14.4 months for those with a diagnosis of grade IV astrocytoma (WHO criteria) [1]. Development of alternative treatment modalities, preferably with mechanisms of action dissimilar to that of standard therapies is therefore urgently needed. Advances in our understanding of tumor biology and development of molecular techniques have led to extensive research in the field of gene therapy, immunotherapy, targeted toxins, and virotherapy. In this context, therapeutic approaches based on biological agents, including a large variety of viruses, have gained widespread attention the past two decades. In this chapter we will focus on preclinical and clinical developments of gene therapy and virotherapy for the treatment of malignant glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]