Authors: Rodriguez, Silvia S; Castro, Maria G; Brown, Oscar A; Goya, Rodolfo G; Console, Gloria M

Source: Expert Review of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Volume 4, Number 4, July 2009 , pp. 359-370(12)

Publisher: Expert Reviews

Abstract:

Pituitary adenomas constitute the most frequent neuroendocrine pathology in humans. Current therapies include surgery, radiotherapy and pharmacological approaches. Although useful, they do not always offer a permanent cure. Current research efforts to implement gene therapy in pituitary tumors include the treatment of experimental adenomas with adenoviral vector-mediated transfer of the suicide gene for thymidine kinase, which converts the prodrug ganciclovir into a toxic metabolite. In some cases, the suicide transgene has been placed under the control of pituitary cell type-specific promoters. Also, regulatable adenoviral vector systems are being assessed in gene therapy approaches for experimental pituitary tumors. Although the efficiency and safety of current viral vectors must be improved before clinical use, they remain as highly promising therapeutic tools.

Keywords: combined therapy; gene therapy; IGF-I gene therapy; neurosurgery; pituitary tumors; proapoptotic genes; suicide gene therapy; viral vectors

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/eem.09.16

Affiliations: 1: Histology and Embryology B, Buenos Aires Province Commission for Scientific Research (CICPBA), Argentina and Institute for Biochemical Research at La Plata (INIBIOLP), Argentinean National Research Council (CONICET), Faculty of Medicine, Universi

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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• Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism provides extensive coverage of state-of-the-art research and clinical advancements in the field of endocrine control and metabolism, with a focus on screening, prevention, diagnostics, existing and novel therapeutics, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology and epidemiology
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