Development of a gene transfer-based treatment for radiation-induced salivary hypofunction

Baum, Bruce J.; Zheng, Changyu; Alevizos, Ilias; Cotrim, Ana P.; Liu, Shuying; McCullagh, Linda; Goldsmith, Corinne M.; McDermott, Nancy; Chiorini, John A.; Nikolov, Nikolay P.; Illei, Gabor G.

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2009.09.004

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Volume 46, Issue 1 , Pages 4-8, January 2010

Development of a gene transfer-based treatment for radiation-induced salivary hypofunction

Bruce J. Baum
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Corresponding author. Address: Bldg. 10, Room 1N113, MSC-1190, MPTB/NIDCR/NIH, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-1190, USA. Tel.: +1 301 496 1363; fax: +1 301 402 1228.
Changyu Zheng
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Ilias Alevizos
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Ana P. Cotrim
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Shuying Liu
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Linda McCullagh
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Corinne M. Goldsmith
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Nancy McDermott
- Clinical Research Core, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
John A. Chiorini
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Nikolay P. Nikolov
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Gabor G. Illei
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

Received 5 August 2009; received in revised form 16 September 2009; accepted 17 September 2009. published online 05 November 2009.

Abstract

A significant long-term side effect of radiation therapy for head and neck cancers is xerostomia, a dry mouth, due to salivary gland damage. Despite continuing efforts to eliminate this problem, many patients continue to suffer. This brief review describes our efforts to develop a gene transfer approach, employing the aquaporin-1 cDNA, to treat patients with existing radiation-induced salivary hypofunction. A Phase I/II clinical trial, using a recombinant adenoviral vector to mediate gene transfer, is currently underway.

Keywords: Xerostomia, Radiation, Gene therapy, Aquaporin-1, Adenovirus, Oral cancer