The genomic guardian: A boon for cancer survival

Oral cancer is an alarming health problem globally, with 300,000 cases being newly diagnosed annually. Despite research being aimed to improve treatment with conventional methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy; there is severe morbidity associated with this malignancy. This presents an emerging need to develop advanced treatment options. Recent advances in molecular biology and technology have provided us with unique possibilities for studying aberrations at the genetic level and hence provided the basis for possible treatments such as gene therapy. The definition of gene therapy hence is given as the “alteration or insertion of genetic material into an organism to replace or repair a defect to correct or prevent disease.” Employing human tumor suppressor p53 as the target of gene therapy demonstrates great potential in curing squamous cell carcinomas. The functions of tumor suppressor genes can be reinstated with the incorporation of the therapeutic p53 gene into tumor cells. The treatment results are also greatly improved when it is administered with various vectors, most commonly adenoviral delivery. Combination therapy with p53 and chemotherapy provides a synergistic benefit toward the tumor growth suppression and apoptosis and also emphasizes the superiority of intra-arterial administration of this combination as compared to other routes. Thus, the purpose of this article is to review and emphasize the use and purpose of intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapeutics in combination with p53 gene therapy.