Gene therapy models. The Rb2/p130 gene: The latest weapon in the war against lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and is the major cause of cancer deaths in the Western world. Large scale screening trials conducted 15-20 years ago using chest X-rays and sputum cytology were able to detect stage I cancers but failed to impact on survival. This is because of the early metastatic potential of small primary tumors. It is important then to detect lung cancer at an earlier stage, studying and identifying genetic lesions that could indicate a new target(s) for gene therapy. The retinoblastoma-related gene pRb2/p130, a new tumor suppressor gene cloned in 1993, is emerging as one of the candidate markers and targets for gene therapeutic approach. Effective genetic therapy requires both a genetic material to be used therapeutically and a means to deliver it. A scope for this review is to examine some of the gene delivery systems mostly used, discussing their weaknesses and strengths, and to discuss the role of pRb2/p130 in lung cancer.