Gene therapy techniques

Abstract

The most dramatic event of the past year in the field of gene therapy has been the initiation of clinical trials involving the introduction of genetically altered cells into human beings. Four studies, three involving new approaches to cancer therapy and one involving the treatment of adenosine deaminase deficiency, are presently under way. There has also been significant recent progress in the technology of gene transfer relevant to gene therapy. This progress, along with the recent clinical therapy trials, is the subject of this review.