Nonviral Gene Therapy Vectors

Presently, 1,260 gene-therapy trials are underway worldwide (Tables 1 and 2). For details see http // www.wiley.co.uk/genetherapy/clinical/. Almost three fourths of all trials are based on viral vectors. The vast majority of nonviral gene-therapy trials use naked/ plasmid DNA (18% of all gene-therapy trials). 

Ohlfest, J.R., Freese, A.B., and Largaespada, D.A. 2005. Nonviral vectors for cancer gene therapy prospects for integrating vectors and combination therapies. Current Gene Therapy 5(6), 629-641. 

Gene Therapy An Overview of the Current Viral and Nonviral Vectors...333... 

Although most of the studies using nonviral vectors are being performed in animal models, O Malley and colleagues have performed IL-2 gene therapy by using nonviral vector in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. In their phase I clinical trial, cationic liposomes prepared with CMV-IL-2 plasmid were injected into the tumor. All patients completed the study but most died due to the progression of the disease. One patient exhibited a decrease in the burden of the tumor. 

Lundstrom K, bouhkas T. 2003. Viral and nonviral vectors in gene therapy Technology development and chnical trials. Technol Cane Res Treat. 2 471-486. 

Niidome T, Huang L. 2002. Gene therapy progress and prospects Nonviral vectors. Gene Ther. 9 1647-1652. 

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