title: Gene therapy in epilepsy-is it time for clinical trials?
abstract: Epilepsy represents a major burden to society, not least because approximately 25% of patients do not respond satisfactorily to antiepileptic medication, and only a minority with pharmacoresistant epilepsy are eligible for potentially curative surgery. Several studies have explored gene therapy as a treatment strategy. The translation of scientific breakthroughs into the clinic faces several challenges, including the validation of experimental models of human pharmacoresistant epilepsy, establishment of sensitive and specific measures of therapeutic efficacy, and evaluation of the long-term safety of gene therapy. On the basis of successful reports of gene therapy in experimental models of epilepsy, a roadmap toward clinical trials is proposed.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square House, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Dimitri M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kullmann
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square House, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schorge
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square House, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square House, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wykes
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans