Prospects for gene therapy in lung disease.

The past decade has brought significant advances in the field of gene therapy for both inherited and acquired diseases, especially with regard to respiratory disease. Barriers to gene transfer posed by the lung have led to the development of modifications of both vector and host in an attempt to increase the efficiency of transfer. Recently, progress has been made in both laboratory and clinical studies of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and lung cancer.