( The bone that is rebuilt is now fully ...)Gene therapy converts dead bone graft to new, living tissue

Schwarz's studies with mice showed their dead splints were quickly converted to new, healthy bone. He projects that the bone would be completely converted in just a year, and that a human bone might be completely converted in as little as five years. The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation has been trying for two decades to conquer the issues complicating bone transplants, and the group has pledged to continue supporting Schwarz's research. Schwarz hopes to begin early human trials with the procedure soon.

"This technology looks like it will have a dramatic effect on success rates for cancer patients who would otherwise be facing choices as drastic as amputation," says Arthur A. Gertzman, executive vice president for research and development at the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.

Other scientists have attempted to invoke a similar reaction in dead bone by infusing tissue-growing proteins directly into the bone. This has proven successful for the small bone transplants used in spinal fusion, but not for larger grafts, because the proteins' effectiveness wear off in just hours. By contrast, the gene therapy method triggers the tissue surrounding the graft to produce the proteins continuously for up to three weeks, long enough for the body to trigger the perpetual bone remodeling response. Stem cells have also seen success in this area, but Schwarz says their appeal has waned because their handling ?keeping them alive and ready to use ?is far harder than Schwarz's viral paste, which can be stored at room temperature and doesn't interfere with the normal grafting surgery.

"We're very excited about the prospects of this technology," says Schwarz. "Our ultimate goal is to apply this to one of the Holy Grails of orthopedics ?cartilage repair. Unlik
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Source:University of Rochester Medical Center