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Targeting Cancer With Gene Therapy Using Hypoxia as a Stimulus

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Book cover Suicide Gene Therapy

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine™ ((MIMM,volume 90))

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Abstract

Tumors are known to have an abnormal and chaotic vascular network, unable to effectively or reliably supply the whole tumor with oxygen and nutrients. Over the past years direct evidence has accumulated showing that reduced oxygen tension (hypoxia) is a common feature of both experimental and human solid tumors (1). For example, in a study of human breast cancer, the median tumor oxygen partial pressure (pO2) for all stages of the disease was found to be around 28 mm Hg (3.9% O2), compared with 65 mm Hg (8.7% O2) for normal breast tissue. In the normal breast, pO2 values less than 2.5 mm Hg (approx 0.3% O2) could not be detected, whereas they were measured in about one-third of the breast cancer cases (2). Severe hypoxia has also been reported for head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, and melanomas (3–5).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tumour Microcirculation Group, Gray Laboratory Cancer Research Trust, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, UK

    Gabi U. Dachs, Olga Greco & Gillian M. Tozer

Authors
  1. Gabi U. Dachs
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  2. Olga Greco
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  3. Gillian M. Tozer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics at the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK

    Caroline J. Springer

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© 2004 Humana Press Inc.

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Dachs, G.U., Greco, O., Tozer, G.M. (2004). Targeting Cancer With Gene Therapy Using Hypoxia as a Stimulus. In: Springer, C.J. (eds) Suicide Gene Therapy. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 90. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-429-8:371

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-429-8:371

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-971-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-429-0

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