TY - JOUR
T1 - The Blunt End
T2 - Surgical Challenges of Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Diseases
AU - Davis, Janet L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding/Support: Investigator-sponsored trial: Sponsor Byron L. Lam, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA, AAV2-REP1 for choroideremia, NCT02553135 (completed). Investigator-sponsored trial: Sponsor John R. Guy, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA, scAAV2-P1ND4v2 for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, NCT02161380. Advanced Cell Technology, Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, MA09-hRPE 001 stem cells for Stargardt, NCT01345006 (completed). Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, Alachua, Florida, USA, AGTC-CNGB3 for achromatopsia, NCT02599922. NightStaRX Ltd, London, United Kingdom, Star NSR-REP-01 NCT03496012 and Gemini NSR-REP-02 NCT03507686 for choroideremia. Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc, Fremont, California, USA, QRK 207 for anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, NCT02341560. Sanofi US Services, SAR422459 for Stargardt, NCT01367444. Centocor Inc, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, CNTO 2476 for advanced retinitis pigmentosa, NCT00458575 (completed). Financial Disclosures: Janet L. Davis: Allergan, Data Safety Monitoring Committee.
PY - 2018/12
Y1 - 2018/12
N2 - Purpose: To review barriers to effective transduction of cells in the subretinal plane during gene therapy surgery for inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD). Design: Perspective. Methods: Case-based learning in clinical trials and commercial applications of gene therapy in a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. MEDLINE search for publications relevant to retinal surgical technique for gene therapy, clinical trials results for gene therapy of IRD, adenoviral-associated viral vector design, and immune response to viral vectors. Results: The most important surgical issues are safe access to the subretinal space, intraoperative visualization with optical coherence tomography to protect the macula, and quantitation of viral dose. Other issues for retinal surgeons are patient selection, target zone planning, and control of inflammation. Vector-related issues that may affect the precision of treatment involve capsid interaction with the innate and adaptive immune systems and selective targeting of cell types. Conclusions: Most current gene therapy vectors for monogenic IRD require physical proximity to target tissues under the retina in order to work. New surgical skills and new instrumentation are under development. So far, the host immune response does not seem to cause rejection of genes delivered by viral vectors but the efficiency of transduction can only be indirectly assessed by long-term visual outcomes.
AB - Purpose: To review barriers to effective transduction of cells in the subretinal plane during gene therapy surgery for inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD). Design: Perspective. Methods: Case-based learning in clinical trials and commercial applications of gene therapy in a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. MEDLINE search for publications relevant to retinal surgical technique for gene therapy, clinical trials results for gene therapy of IRD, adenoviral-associated viral vector design, and immune response to viral vectors. Results: The most important surgical issues are safe access to the subretinal space, intraoperative visualization with optical coherence tomography to protect the macula, and quantitation of viral dose. Other issues for retinal surgeons are patient selection, target zone planning, and control of inflammation. Vector-related issues that may affect the precision of treatment involve capsid interaction with the innate and adaptive immune systems and selective targeting of cell types. Conclusions: Most current gene therapy vectors for monogenic IRD require physical proximity to target tissues under the retina in order to work. New surgical skills and new instrumentation are under development. So far, the host immune response does not seem to cause rejection of genes delivered by viral vectors but the efficiency of transduction can only be indirectly assessed by long-term visual outcomes.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.08.038
DO - 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.08.038
M3 - Article
C2 - 30194931
AN - SCOPUS:85054157660
VL - 196
SP - xxv-xxix
JO - American Journal of Ophthalmology
JF - American Journal of Ophthalmology
SN - 0002-9394
ER -