1. ¹Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Rational Drug Design Program, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
2. ²Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
3. ³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Düsseldorf Medical Center, 40001 Düsseldorf, Germany
4. ⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence: Akseli Hemminki, P.O. Box 63, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. Fax: +358 9 1912 5465. E-mail: akseli.hemminki@helsinki.fi

Received 31 August 2005; Revised 13 December 2005; Accepted 6 February 2006.

Abstract

Gene transfer presents a potentially useful approach for the treatment of diseases refractory to conventional therapies. Various preclinical and clinical strategies have been explored for treatment of gynecological diseases. Given the direst need for novel treatments, much of the work has been performed with gynecological cancers and ovarian cancer in particular. Although the safety of many approaches has been demonstrated in early phase clinical trials, efficacy has been mostly limited so far. Major challenges include improving gene transfer vectors for enhanced and selective delivery and achieving effective penetration and spread within advanced and complex tumor masses. This review will focus on current and developmental gene transfer applications for gynecological diseases.