Nucleic Acid Therapies for Cancer Treatment

Abstract

A better understanding of the biochemical pathways mediating tumor growth and progression has provided a new set of targets for therapeutic intervention. The ability to target highly specific segments of genetic material using oligonucleotide probes has been the subject of nucleic acid based therapy and is being applied to a variety of human diseases, including cancer. This chapter will discuss the various strategies utilizing nucleic acids for inhibiting gene transcription and translation with a major focus on RNAi and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. Specific targets will be described and results of preliminary clinical trials reported. Future challenges in the clinical translation of nucleic acid treatments will also be described.