title: Gene therapy for ischemic cardiovascular diseases: some lessons learned from the first clinical trials.
abstract: Stimulation of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis (i.e., therapeutic vascular growth) is a new concept for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular diseases. A wealth of information is already available about the mechanisms and mediators of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, which has led to the first randomized, controlled, phase II/III trials with recombinant growth factors or their genes. Even though end points predefined in the study protocols have been positive in several trials, it is still evident that the trials have not produced any clearly meaningful clinical benefits for the patients. This review addresses same questions and concepts related to the gene therapy-based applications of therapeutic vascular growth.
authors.affiliation: Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, Johanna E. Markkanen, and Tuomas T. Rissanen are at the A.I.Virtanen Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. seppo.ylaherttuala@uku.fi
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ylä-Herttuala
authors.forename: Johanna E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Markkanen
authors.forename: Tuomas T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Rissanen
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors