Gene Therapy For Neurological Disorders And Brain Tumors (contemporary Neuroscience)

Drs. Chiocca and Breakefield bring together in Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders and Brain Tumors many of the leading gene therapy researchers and clinicians to capture the breadth of the field - from basic vector technology to current and future clinical applications. The authoritative contributions provide cutting-edge reviews of the vectors available for gene transfer to the central nervous system, the strategies against CNS tumors, the potential strategies against neurologic disorders, and the limitations of today's gene therapy approaches. Also discussed are significant applications of gene therapy to brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, ischemia, and Huntington's chorea. Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders and Brain Tumors illuminates the rapidly developing applications of gene transfer technologies to the treatment of a wide range of neurological disorders and brain tumors. Readers will learn the current delivery methods for transgenes, will learn the characteristics of the transgene delivery vectors, and come to more fully understand gene therapies for both neuro-oncologic and neurologic disorders

Leading gene therapy researchers and clinicians illuminate the field-from basic vector technology to current and future clinical applications in neurology. The authoritative contributors provide cutting-edge reviews of the vectors available for gene transfer to the central nervous system, the strategies against CNS tumors, the potential strategies against neurologic disorder, and the limitations of today's gene therapy approaches. Also discussed are significant applications of gene therapy to brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, ischemia, and Huntington's chorea. Readers will learn the current delivery methods for transgenes, will learn the characteristics of transgene delivery vectors, and come to understand the therapy for both neuro-oncologic and neurologic disorders.

Alexander Kolchinsky

This book's 21 chapters are written by 51 authors representing most leading laboratories in the field of gene therapy for nervous system disorders. The book is divided into three parts: vectors and promoters for gene therapy; gene therapy of tumors; and gene therapy of other neurological disorders. Each part opens with a concise review of the corresponding area. Individual chapters cover both well-established experimental directions and emerging approaches, for instance, novel lentiviral vectors, a relatively new area of gene therapy for pain treatment. The purpose of the book, as indirectly stated in the preface, is to promote interaction between the gene therapist on the one hand and the neurologist and neurosurgeon on the other, or to translate molecular knowledge about genes and cells into a therapeutic benefit for the patient. The potential audience for the book is broad and includes researchers working with delivery systems and experimental models of gene therapy, as well as medical practitioners interested in new technology at all levels of training. The book is very well edited and thoughtfully structured. Chapters have a similar format, including brief conclusions at the end. It is illustrated with high quality black-and-white photographs and schemes and has a detailed index. This is a comprehensive and up-to-date review. Biological characteristics of the nervous system make it the model of choice for gene therapy, at least at the beginning phase. Therefore, the book is a valuable source of information for anyone interested in gene therapy as a whole.

Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-6 Retrovirus Vectors and Regulatable Promoters....Pages 7-38 Characteristics of Adenovirus Vectors....Pages 39-52 HSV Recombinant Vectors....Pages 53-62 HSV-1 Amplicon....Pages 63-82 AAV Vectors....Pages 83-92 EBV Vectors....Pages 93-112 Lentiviral Vectors for Gene Delivery in the Nervous System....Pages 113-120 Promoters for Expression of Gene Products within Neurons and Glia....Pages 121-146 Immune Response to Viral Vectors....Pages 147-157 Front Matter....Pages 159-159 Current Treatment Modalities for Brain Tumor....Pages 161-189 Experimental and Clinical Gene Therapies for Brain Tumors....Pages 191-203 Tumor Suppressor Gene Therapy for Brain Tumors....Pages 205-229 Cytokine-Based Gene Therapy for Brain Tumors....Pages 231-294 Delivery of Therapeutic Genes to Brain and Intracerebral Tumors....Pages 295-312 Rat Brain Tumor Models and the Statistical Evaluation of Survival Data in Experimental Neuro-Oncology....Pages 313-337 Front Matter....Pages 339-343 Gene Transfer for Adult CNS Regeneration and Aging....Pages 345-375 Gene Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease....Pages 377-395 Gene Therapy for Ischemic Stroke....Pages 397-408 Gene Therapy for Lysosomal Storage Diseases....Pages 409-418 Gene Therapy for Pain....Pages 419-426 Front Matter....Pages 339-343 Gene Therapy of Huntington’s Disease....Pages 427-443 Back Matter....Pages 445-458