Gene electrotransfer

Figure 8.9 Gene electrotransfer to skin. Schematic of how gene electrotransfer to skin may be used in a variety of medical conditions, from vaccination to cancer treatment. Gene electrotransfer to skin gives rise to transgenic expression lasting a couple of weeks [7, 35].

Gene electrotransfer to other tissues, for example kidney, testes and eyes, is extensively reviewed elsewhere and a detailed description falls beyond this chapter. 

Drug and gene electrotransfer has a number of highly interesting perspectives. Clinical feasibility has been shown, and numerous novel apphcations are in development. Electrochemotherapy is estimated to become an important part of the armamentarium in the treatment of cancer of various histologies, and anatomical locations. 

Gothelf, A. and Gehl, J. (2010) Gene electrotransfer to skin review of existing literature and clinical perspectives. Current Gene Therapy, 10, 287-299. 

Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (C EDGE) Department of Oncology Herlev Ringvej 75... 

Leroy-Willig A, Bureau M F, Scherman D, et al. (2005). In vivo NMR imaging evaluation of efficiency and toxicity of gene electrotransfer in rat muscle. Gene Ther. 12 1434-1443. 

Hojman PJ, Zibert R, Gissel H, Eriksen J, Gehl J (2007) Gene expression profiles in skeletal muscle after gene electrotransfer. BMC Mol Biol 8 56. doi 10.1186/1471-2199-8-56... 

In conclusion, the future for gene electrotransfer for clinical use is bright. Based on many clinical trials in human and veterinary medicine that showed positive results and safety of the approaches, especially two fields, prophylactic vaccination for infectious disease and curative vaccination combined with standard treatments for cancer will benefit in the future. Further technical developments of electrodes and generators of electric pulses on one hand and further optimization of plasmids DNA regarding the controlled expression and safety on the other hand will bring gene electrotransfer into wider use. 

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