Projects / Programmes
Kombinacija elektrogenske imunske terapije z interlevkinom-12 in obsevanjem za zdravljenje eksperimentalnih tumorjev (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.04.00 |
Medical sciences |
Oncology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.01 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Basic medicine |
Researchers (10)
Organisations (2)
Significance for science
Nowadays, gene therapy is quickly progressing due to the development of new and safe gene delivery systems. Electroporation is among nonviral gene delivery systems, one of the most advanced, since several clinical trials are ongoing for cancer treatment and also in DNA vaccination, later especially in veterinary medicine. Our research group was one of the pioneering groups in this field, the research on electroporation started 20 years ago, while on gene electrotransfer 14 years ago. We showed that the histological properties of different tumors influence the transfection efficiency and that at least in part we can predict on the basis of known histological type of tumor the level of transfection efficiency and also treatment outcome. In the part of the research devoted to electrogene transfer to muscle, we demonstrated that with appropriate selection of parameters of electric pulses, dose of plasmid DNA and timing of DNA injection, one can control the level of expression of transgene and also the duration of expression. Together with the knowledge in tumor biology and radiobiology we have broadened our studies to electrogene therapy with IL12 in combination with irradiation. Several studies have already been performed in the field of electrogene therapy with IL12 alone, however our contribution is the use of regulated systemic electrogene therapy concerning the duration of IL12 expression and the amount of IL12 for potentiation of radiotherapy of superficial and deeper seeded tumors. Our studies are translational studies. Our research group is actively involved also in clinical trials on electrochemotherapy and electrogene therapy. In addition, we already have some experience with combination of electrochemotherapy and radiotherapy in clinical setting. Furthermore, due to the recently published positive results of electrogene therapy with IL12 in clinical setting, we believe that our study will form a solid base for translation of this therapy into clinical study phase I/II.
Significance for the country
Our research group is actively involved in various research areas of electrogene transfer to different tissues. The proposed project is connected to the Research programme in which the researchers of the proposed project are included. Furthermore, the connections between two research organization, one coming from clinical environment and the other from University will be further developed and will form the possibilities for inclusion of students into research work. Our research group is actively collaborating with research group from France (bilateral project PROTEUS) and in the European project ANGIOSKIN. Undergraduated and postgraduated student, as well as young researchers were trained during the project on use of this technology, both at the stage of selection and preparation of the plasmids, histological tehniques, western blotting as well as in the stage of its evaluation of antitumor effectiveness on experimental animals. Additionaly, clinical study in oncology veterinary patients in collaboration with Clinic for small animals Veterinary faculty University of Ljubljana was initiated and is ongoing.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
