Combating oncogene activation associated with retrovirus-mediated gene therapy of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency

Autor(es)

B.E. Strauss ; E. Costanzi-Strauss

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 40, n. 5, p. 601-613, 2007-03-14.

Resumo

A successful gene therapy clinical trial that also encountered serious adverse effects has sparked extensive study and debate about the future directions for retrovirus-mediated interventions. Treatment of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency with an oncoretrovirus harboring a normal copy of the gc gene was applied in two clinical trials, essentially curing 13 of 16 infants, restoring a normal immune system without the need for additional immune-related therapies. Approximately 3 years after their gene therapy, tragically, 3 of these children, all from the same trial, developed leukemia as a result of this experimental treatment. The current understanding of the mechanism behind this leukemogenesis involves three critical and cooperating factors, i.e., viral integration, oncogene activation, and the function of the therapeutic gene. In this review, we will explore the causes of this unwanted event and some of the possibilities for reducing the risk of its reoccurrence. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 00/12156-5 - Estratégias de regulação transcricional em produção e expressão de retrovírus
• Beneficiário: Bryan Eric Strauss
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 98/15120-0 - Eficiente transferência de genes de controle do ciclo celular mediada por uma aperfeiçoada plataforma de Retrovírus do sistema pCL: aplicações in vitro e in vivo
• Beneficiário: Eugenia Costanzi-Strauss
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular