Genetic therapy of human neoplastic disease

Molecular biology has provided clinical investigators and basic scientists with the tools to identify those changes present within neoplastic hematopoietic and epithelial cells that lead to the evolution of unregulated patterns of cell growth. This information has made possible the development of therapy that involves genetic modification of either the normal hematopoietic cells (for chemoprotection), or the tumor cells themselves to suppress the growth of these cells. This article will summarize the clinical and laboratory data that is evolving in this area.