The promise of gene therapy in gastrointestinal and liver diseases.
Gene therapy consists of the transfer of genetic material to cells to achieve a therapeutic goal. In the field of gastroenterology and hepatology gene therapy has produced considerable expectation as a potential tool in the management of conditions that lack effective therapy including non-resectable neoplasms of the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, chronic viral hepatitis unresponsive to interferon therapy, liver cirrhosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Prieto
J
J
Division of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, Department of Medicine, Clinica Universitaria, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. jprieto@unav.es
Herraiz
M
M
Sangro
B
B
Qian
C
C
Mazzolini
G
G
Melero
I
I
Ruiz
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy*