Values and limits of adenoviral vectors for gene transfer in vivo

Review of the therapeutic use of DNA transfer to treat a certain number of hereditary diseases (such as adenosine deaminase deficiency) or acquired diseases. The strategies (ex vivo manipulation or direct in vivo transfer of the corrective gene), vectors (retrovirus, adenovirus, nonviral vectors), and diseases which can benefit from gene therapy are considered and discussed together with an evaluation of the risk of gene therapy.