Study Looks at Intravenous Gene Therapy

U.S. scientists say intravenous gene therapy could be used to protect vital organs and tissues from the effects of a radiological or nuclear bomb.

Ionizing radiation can be extremely damaging to cells, tissues, organs and organ systems, said Dr. Joel Greenberger, a professor and chairman of the department of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "In previous studies, we demonstrated gene therapy can be both swallowed in pill form and inhaled through a nebulizer prior to radiation exposure to protect healthy tissues from damage.

In this study, we found the same therapy administered intravenously also offers protection during exposure to whole-body irradiation.

Greenberger said such intravenous administration could potentially offer wide-reaching protection to the public in the event of a terrorist attack since experts believe a significant number of the population would die within 30 days of receiving a large dose of radiation to the entire body.

Greenberger and colleagues presented their research Tuesday in Philadelphia during the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.