新型自杀基因疗法被用于治疗恶性脑瘤
生物谷报道：最近，Methodist 神经研究所的医生和研究人员正尝试综合放射治疗和自杀基因疗法来治疗典型的顽固恶性脑瘤。这种综合放疗和基因疗法的技术已被成功应用于局部前列腺癌的治疗。Mothodist研究所是美国两个可以提供此种特殊基因治疗临床试验的单位之一，主要用于最常见的脑瘤类型-恶性胶质瘤。美国每年有1.8万人被诊断为原发性脑瘤患者，其中恶性胶质瘤患者超过一半，它在15-44岁年龄段的成为肿瘤致死原因的第二位。
在此研究中，最常见的感冒病毒被设计成运载疱疹病毒基因进入肿瘤的“载体”（称为AdV-tk），在手术中注入脑瘤。随后，受试患者口服一般用于治疗疱疹的药物伐昔洛韦。药物可以杀死疱疹病毒，同时也可使肿瘤细胞死亡，称之为“自我毁灭”。如果需要，受试患者同时进行放疗或化疗治疗。
Methodist研究所的主要研究人员和神经肿瘤学家Pamela New博士说，“恶性胶质瘤具有不受控制增长和易侵袭和破坏脑临近组织的特性。如果此疗法可降低脑肿瘤的扩散、识别并杀死潜在脑肿瘤细胞，我们就会给脑瘤患者提供新的希望。”由于在前列腺癌中成功应用，Methoidst研究所计划将来运用此方法治疗肺癌、胰腺癌、直肠癌、肾癌等肿瘤。
英文原文：
Novel Suicide Gene Therapy Used To Treat Malignant Brain Tumors
Physicians and researchers in the Methodist Neurological Institute (NI) are studying the use of a novel combination of radiation and suicide gene therapy to treat typically stubborn malignant brain tumors.
This therapy, which combines radiation and gene therapy, has already proven successful in eradicating localized prostate cancer. Methodist is one of only two sites in the
In the study, the common cold virus is used as a "cargo ship" to carry the herpes virus gene into the tumor. This gene agent, known as AdV-tk, is injected into the brain tumor during surgery. Following the procedure, study patients are given the drug Valtrex orally, which is the medication used to treat the herpes virus. When the drug kills the herpes, it also blasts the cancer cells, making them self-destruct. Study patients will also undergo radiation therapy and chemotherapy, if needed.
"Malignant gliomas are unique in their ability to grow uncontrollably and aggressively invade and destroy neighboring areas of the brain," said Dr. Pamela New, a neuro-oncologist and the principal investigator on this study at Methodist. "If this therapy can eliminate the spread of cancer in the brain and recognize and kill additional cancerous cells that may be lurking in the brain, then we can give our brain tumor patients freedom from this disease."
Malignant gliomas account for more than half of the more than 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors diagnosed each year in the
As a result of the success of the prostate study at Methodist, this treatment also will be applied to multiple cancer sites in the near future, including lung, pancreas, rectal, anal, and renal cell.
Researchers will follow a total of 24 study patients at the Methodist NI and
About the Methodist Neurological Institute
The Methodist Neurological Institute (NI) houses the practice and research activities of the departments of neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, physical medicine & rehabilitation, and neuropsychiatry of The Methodist Hospital. The collaboration between these departments offers patients the most advanced treatment options available. The mission of the NI is to advance the discovery of the origins, mechanisms and treatment of neurological disease and to provide comprehensive care for patients with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord.
The
Methodist is ranked among the country's top centers in six specialties in U.S News & World Report's 2006
原文链接：
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=58015
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Methodist神经研究所简介
Methodist神经研究所包括Methoidst医院各个部门如神经学、神经外科、放射神经学、物理治疗和康复、神经精神病学等的研究和实践。各个部门之间的协作可以提供病人最好的治疗建议。本研究所的目标是发现神经疾病的病因、发病机理和治疗方法，并给患脑和脊髓疾病的患者全面的治疗和护理。
Methodist医院是全国最大的私人、非盈利综合医院之一。它主要隶属于康奈尔大学Weill医院和纽约Presbyterian医院，现在也与Houston大学有关。
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