title: Clinical trials in vascular gene therapy: the missing piece of the puzzle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular gene transfer provides unique opportunities for novel therapies for cardiovascular disease. To define the limitations and expectations of translating preclinical strategies to clinical therapy, the kinetics and extent of vascular transgene expression must be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published clinical and preclinical studies of vascular gene transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kinetics and extent of vascular transgene expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In spite of ongoing clinical studies in vascular gene transfer, data regarding the kinetics and extent of transgene expression are very limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the efficient translation of preclinical to clinical vascular gene transfer studies, the kinetics and extent of transgene expression should be determined. Novel imaging technologies and unique clinical scenarios for obtaining tissue should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Molecular Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. simari.robert@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Simari
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D012107:Research Design