Reports from Fudan University describe recent advances in cancer gene therapy.

"To study the tumor specificity and antitumor activity of the replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus TOA02, which is controlled by a modified human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter and expresses granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The wild-type hTERT promoter was modified, by inserting two E2F-binding sites," investigators in Shanghai, People's Republic of China report (see also Cancer Gene Therapy).

"The effect of the modified hTERT on the viral yield and cytotoxicity of TOA02 were determined in vitro with a panel of tumor cells and normal cells, to evaluate tumor specificity; the effect on the antitumor efficacy and …