title: Increased vascularity detected by digital subtraction angiography after VEGF gene transfer to human lower limb artery: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded phase II study.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene therapy may be useful for the treatment of lower-limb ischemia. The objectives of this study were to evaluate safety and angiographic and hemodynamic responses of local catheter-mediated VEGF gene therapy in ischemic lower-limb arteries after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). For this study, we recruited patients with chronic lower-limb ischemia and atherosclerotic infrainguinal occlusion or stenosis suitable for PTA. In the study, 18 patients received 2x10(10) plaque-forming units (pfu) VEGF-adenovirus (VEGF-Ad), 17 patients received VEGF-plasmid/liposome (VEGF-P/L; 2000 microg of VEGF plasmid, 2000 microl of DOTMA:DOPE), and 19 control patients received Ringer's lactate at the angioplasty site. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was used to evaluate vascularity before, immediately after, and 3 months after the PTA. Clinical follow-up data, basic laboratory tests, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were evaluated. Primary endpoint was DSA analysis of vascularity, and secondary endpoints were restenosis rate, Rutherford class, and ABI after 3 months follow-up. No major gene transfer-related side effects or differences in laboratory tests were detected between the study groups. However, anti-adenovirus antibodies increased in 61% of the patients treated with VEGF-Ad. For the primary endpoint, follow-up DSA revealed increased vascularity in the VEGF-treated groups distally to the gene transfer site (VEGF-Ad P=0.03, VEGFP/L P=0.02) and in the VEGF-Ad group in the region of the clinically most severe ischemia (P=0.01). As for the secondary endpoints, mean Rutherford class and ABI showed statistically significant improvements in the VEGF-Ad and VEGF-P/L groups, but similar improvements were also seen in the control patients. We conclude that catheter-mediated VEGF gene therapy is safe and well tolerated. Angiography demonstrated that VEGF gene transfer increased vascularity after PTA in both VEGF-Ad- and VEGF-P/L-treated groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manninen
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matsi
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mussalo
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alhava
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ylä-Herttuala
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008081:Liposomes; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors