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Gene Therapy for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

  • Chapter
Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Oncology ((CCO))

Abstract

It is generally recognized that the unregulated growth of cancer cells results from sequential acquisition of mutations in genes that control growth and/or differentiation of cells or are involved in protection of the genome. Cancer develops when the accumulation of these alterations allows for a growth advantage over normal surrounding cells (1). The pathogenesis of cancer can be described as follows: Oncogenes are altered normal genes (called protooncogenes) that mediate normal cell growth and differentiation. Gain-of-function (dominant) mutations affect these genes to induce the neoplastic phenotype. Tumor suppressor genes are genes that normally inhibit cellular function. Loss-of-function (recessive) mutations alter their inhibitory properties, leading to unimpeded proliferation. Gene therapy aims to change these genetic alterations so that cancer cell growth can be suppressed. After a gene is transfected into a cell, mRNA is transcribed, and then its protein product is translated.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology—Heal and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

    Andrew Iskander MD & George H. Yoo MD

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  1. Andrew Iskander MD
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  2. George H. Yoo MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

    David J. Adelstein MD

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Iskander, A., Yoo, G.H. (2005). Gene Therapy for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer. In: Adelstein, D.J. (eds) Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer. Current Clinical Oncology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-938-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-938-7_18

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-473-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-938-7

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