Cutaneous gene therapy--an update.

In this paper we review various strategies for gene transfer into the skin, their applications and show some of our own examples. The skin is the most accessible somatic tissue. Inherited skin diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa and ichthyosis, and various systemic metabolic disorders are under investigation as potential candidate diseases for cutaneous gene transfer. Research is directed against genetic therapy of wounds and malignancies as well. So far, cutaneous gene transfer only has been used experimentally, but several clinical trials are under preparation.