Brain Cancer Treatment; A Systematic Review

Abstract

Context: One of the most common aggressive and primary brain tumors is glioma. The majority of diagnoses are referred to high-grade malignant glioblastoma, which carries the worst prognosis. Still, treatment of brain tumors remains a big challenge for clinicians. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of gene therapy in the treatment of brain cancer. Methods: Studies use genes as a therapeutic agent in brain cancer treatment even alone or in combination with other treatment methods. Full-text papers, which met the inclusion criteria, were independently assessed by two reviewers. Disagreements were resolved by consultation with a third reviewer. Results: Statistical analysis showed that 50% of the papers used a virus, 36% used polymers, and 14% used cells as carriers to transfect the genes as a therapeutic agent in brain tumor models. Data showed that the estimated size of the brain tumor was reduced by using co-treatment of the gene with one of the conventional therapies. Conclusions: According to the results, co-treatment of the gene with conventional therapies could be more effective than the monotherapy methods.