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	Friday 4th January 2002 Gene Therapy May Fight Oral Cancer Scientists have found that gene therapy involving 2 immune-system proteins effectively fights oral tumours in mice, and believe such therapy might work in the treatment of human head and neck cancer. Mice with tumours of the mouth were treated with the genes for 2 interleukins, IL-2 and IL-12, which significantly slowed the progression of the cancer. The gene therapy also boosted the activity of the immune system's natural killer cells and T cells. The 2 genes together worked better than either gene alone. Dr Daquing Li, who lead the research at the University of Maryland, said that a key point of the study was that they did not use a virus to deliver the interleukin genes to the tumours. This was to reduce the risk of an immune system reaction and the potential for toxic effects. Instead, the scientists used a technique in which a tiny circle of 'naked' DNA is used for delivering the gene. Dr Li's team say that both IL-2 and IL-12 have been shown to fight tumours, and that there is evidence that treatment with the proteins can boost immune-system activity. The research is reported in a recent issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery. The researchers added, 'The results indicate that combined nonviral IL-2 and IL-12 gene therapy may have great potential as a primary or (added) treatment for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma.' The researchers concluded that the nonviral gene-delivery system appears a promising new tool warranting further laboratory investigation.