Gene delivery in salivary glands: From the bench to the clinic

In vivo gene delivery has long been seen as providing opportunities for the development of novel treatments for disorders refractory to existing therapies. Over the last two decades, salivary glands have proven to be a useful, if somewhat unconventional, target tissue for studying several potential clinical applications of therapeutic gene delivery. Herein, we follow the progress, address some problems and assess the outlook for clinical applications of salivary gland gene delivery. Our experience with these tissues provides a roadmap for the process of moving an idea from the laboratory bench to patients.

► This review offers a roadmap of bench to clinic research using salivary gland gene transfer applications as an example.
► Advantages of salivary glands as gene transfer target sites are described.
► A key clinical application (repair of radiation-damaged glands) is emphasized.
► The opportunities and difficulties associated with bench to clinic research are considered.