MOLECULAR NEUROSURGERY FOR GLIAL AND NEURONAL DISORDERS

Molecular neurosurgery is the surgical use of molecules to destroy, sustain, or modulate or augment neurons, supporting cells or tumor cells within the nervous system. Molecules designed for surgical use may be engineered to be used in their molecular state or may be packaged as liposomes, viruses or genetically engineered cells. This article summarizes the current state of development of one aspect of molecular neurosurgery - the use of genetically engineered viruses to treat brain tumors. Both herpes virus and retrovirus strategies are discussed. Each virus has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that can be used in the design of an appropriate therapeutic strategy. Further application of this technology to intrinsic glial and neuronal disorders is discussed, and future perspectives are presented.