title: Gene therapy, early promises, subsequent problems, and recent breakthroughs.
abstract: Gene therapy is one of the most attractive fields in medicine. The concept of gene delivery to tissues for clinical applications has been discussed around half a century, but scientist's ability to manipulate genetic material via recombinant DNA technology made this purpose to reality. Various approaches, such as viral and non-viral vectors and physical methods, have been developed to make gene delivery safer and more efficient. While gene therapy initially conceived as a way to treat life-threatening disorders (inborn errors, cancers) refractory to conventional treatment, to date gene therapy is considered for many non-life-threatening conditions including those adversely influence on a patient's quality of life. Gene therapy has made significant progress, including tangible success, although much slower than was initially predicted. Although, gene therapies still at a fairly primitive stage, it is firmly science based. There is justifiable hope that with enhanced pathobiological understanding and biotechnological improvements, gene therapy will be a standard part of clinical practice within 20 years.
authors: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Immonuology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Saeideh
authors: S
authors: Razi Soofiyani
authors: Behzad
authors: B
authors: Baradaran
authors: Farzaneh
authors: F
authors: Lotfipour
authors: Tohid
authors: T
authors: Kazemi
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Mohammadnejad
keywords: Gene therapy; Non-viral vectors; Recombinant DNA technology; Viral vectors