VEGF Gene Therapy For Coronary Heart Disease Shown Safe

	August 3, 1999 - Phase 1 testing of an adenovirus carrying the
gene for VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) shows the technique
is safe and "the trends are in the right direction" for treating CAD
(coronary artery disease). The results are published in the August 3
issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
	Dr. Ronald Crystal emphasizes that the trial involving 21
patients, "is still phase 1, so we have to take the benefits with a
grain of salt," but all patients reported less angina, and increased
exercise tolerance. "This is encouraging but we haven't presented
statistics because this is phase 1."
	Fifteen patients got a direct injection of the VEGF-vector
into the heart during bypass surgery, in an area with reversible
ischemia but not being bypassed. Another 6 patients got gene therapy
through an incision as their only treatment.
	In a separate interview, Dr. Todd Rosengart said that his team
saw no ill effects from the treatment. In measuring immune response,
Dr. Rosengart said he saw an initial increase in antibodies to the
adenovirus, which showed the vector was getting a response, but then
the levels came down ok.
	The Cornell team's approach - to deliver the gene via an
adenovirus - is designed to use the gene for only 1-2 weeks. The
treatment "sets in motion a cascade of events" that results in blood
vessel growth. Dr. Rosengart says that his team has been concerned
about too much vessel growth (tumors) but the investigators have seen
none yet.
	A similar approach, delivering VEGF DNA to the heart, is
under investigation at Tufts University.

Circulation 1999;100:468-474