Hybrid prokaryotic-eukaryotic vectors for targeted gene delivery to brain tumours in animal models

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We aim to develop a novel strategy for the treatment of human glioblastomas. These brain tumours are one of the most lethal malignancies. Despite progress in neurosurgery, radiation and chemotherapy, little progress has been made in the treatment of these tumours. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed.Gene therapy is an attractive approach for cancer treatment. Glioblastomas were one of the earliest targets of cancer gene therapy, but the first clinical trials were not successful because of the inefficient delivery of therapeutic genes into the tumours. Thus, there is a need to develop new vector systems that are safe and able to provide strong expression of the therapeutic genes within the tumours. To achieve these two goals, these vectors need to be specifically targeted to the tumour tissue.We have recently showed that combination of attributes of various viruses resulted in the generation of hybrid viral vectors for efficient and targeted systemic gene therapy. We will use this strategy to generate a novel hybrid vector for targeted delivery of therapeutic genes to glioblastoma.These approaches could result in the derivation of a targeted vector system which would represent a major advance in the management and therapy of human glioblastoma.