Biomaterial Database

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy: a current assessment. 2004

Stephanie R McKeown, and Claire Ward, and Tracy Robson

University of Ulster at Coleraine, Radiation Science Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Molecular Biosciences, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland. S.R.McKeown@ulster.ac.uk

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy involves tumor-specific delivery of a gene encoding a drug-metabolizing enzyme allowing metabolism of a non-toxic prodrug to a toxic species directly within tumor cells. This review covers the wide range of enzyme-prodrug combinations currently under preclinical and clinical investigation. Issues of tumor specificity and enhanced cytotoxicity through bystander effects will be discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D011355	Prodrugs	A compound that, on administration, must undergo chemical conversion by metabolic processes before becoming the pharmacologically active drug for which it is a prodrug.	Drug Precursor,Drug Precursors,Pro-Drug,Prodrug,Pro-Drugs,Precursor, Drug,Precursors, Drug,Pro Drug,Pro Drugs
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D004798	Enzymes	Biological molecules that possess catalytic activity. They may occur naturally or be synthetically created. Enzymes are usually proteins, however CATALYTIC RNA and CATALYTIC DNA molecules have also been identified.	Biocatalyst,Enzyme,Biocatalysts
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015316	Genetic Therapy	Techniques and strategies which include the use of coding sequences and other conventional or radical means to transform or modify cells for the purpose of treating or reversing disease conditions.	Gene Therapy,Somatic Gene Therapy,DNA Therapy,Gene Therapy, Somatic,Genetic Therapy, Gametic,Genetic Therapy, Somatic,Therapy, DNA,Therapy, Gene,Therapy, Somatic Gene,Gametic Genetic Therapies,Gametic Genetic Therapy,Genetic Therapies,Genetic Therapies, Gametic,Genetic Therapies, Somatic,Somatic Genetic Therapies,Somatic Genetic Therapy,Therapies, Gametic Genetic,Therapies, Genetic,Therapies, Somatic Genetic,Therapy, Gametic Genetic,Therapy, Genetic,Therapy, Somatic Genetic
D018014	Gene Transfer Techniques	The introduction of functional (usually cloned) GENES into cells. A variety of techniques and naturally occurring processes are used for the gene transfer such as cell hybridization, LIPOSOMES or microcell-mediated gene transfer, ELECTROPORATION, chromosome-mediated gene transfer, TRANSFECTION, and GENETIC TRANSDUCTION. Gene transfer may result in genetically transformed cells and individual organisms.	Gene Delivery Systems,Gene Transfer Technique,Transgenesis,Delivery System, Gene,Delivery Systems, Gene,Gene Delivery System,Technique, Gene Transfer,Techniques, Gene Transfer,Transfer Technique, Gene,Transfer Techniques, Gene
D024201	Bystander Effect	The result of a positive or negative response (to drugs, for example) in one cell being passed onto other cells via the GAP JUNCTIONS or the intracellular milieu.	Bystander Help,Bystander Suppression,Bystander Effects,Effect, Bystander,Effects, Bystander,Help, Bystander,Suppression, Bystander