¹Department of Neurological Surgery, The Dardinger Family Laboratory for Neuro-oncology and Neurosciences, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

Correspondence: Dr EA Chiocca, The Dardinger Family Laboratory for Neuro-oncology and Neurosciences, Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 410 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. E-mail: Chiocca-1@medctr.osu.edu

Received 15 February 2005; Revised 28 April 2005; Accepted 1 May 2005; Published online 2 September 2005.

Abstract

Gene therapy is a potentially useful approach in the treatment of human brain tumors, which are notoriously refractory to conventional approaches. Most human clinical trials to date have been unsuccessful in terms of improving patient outcome. Recent improvements in viral vectors, the development of stem cell technology, and increased understanding of the mechanism of action of therapeutic transgenes provide hope that the next generation of gene therapeutics may show increased efficacy in treatment of this devastating disease.