Gene therapy for lung cancer malignant pleural effusion: current and future nano-biotechnology

Gene therapy has been applied to malignant pleural effusion derived from several types of cancer (colon, breast, lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian and liver) (1-5). Successful management has been established either with p53 tumor suppression gene therapy (4,5) or gene therapy as immunotherapy (1,3) and currently with pro-drug transformation (antibiotic) to active chemotherapy compound (2). All studies administered the nanocomplexe (viral vector/plasmid DNA) through a tunneled intrapleural catheter to induce local disease management. The nanoparticle used to deliver gene therapy in all previous presented studies was a viral vector. Viral vectors are known to stimulate the immune system and therefore formulate neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) against the nanocomplex (6).