Advexin – przykład zastosowania terapii genowej w onkologii

*Katarzyna Drabczyk, Mirosława Püsküllüo?lu

Summary
Advexin is a vaccine containing a copy of wild-type p53 gene. This gene codes p53 protein, which leads cells with defective genome to apoptosis. Advexin was devised to treat people suffering from a rare Li-Fraumeni syndrome. The disease is caused by gene p53 mutation and for that reason people suffering from this syndrome have 25 times higher risk of neoplasms. By 2008, 14 experiments have been conducted with the use of Advexin: 11 with monotherapy and remaining 3 with chemiotherapy, or radiotherapy. However, due to numerous objections, mainly relating to the lack of evidence for therapy’s effectiveness, drug was approved only in China.
A role of p53 in carcinogenesis and using it for gene therapy purposes are current topics among scientists dealing with human cancers’ treatment. On one hand, new discoveries bring us closer to create both effective and selective treatment methods. On the other hand, they help us realize how unbelievable complicated the cancer transformation is. The gene therapy develops very quickly and undoubtedly it becomes a part of future cancer-treating strategy. The therapy that would direct cancer cells to apoptotic pathway could stop, or at least reduce, the growth of almost all types of cancers.
The role of p53 protein as well as the action, therapeutic potential, clinical trials’ data concerning Advexin and potential directions for its future use are presented.

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