Developing non-viral DNA delivery systems for cancer and infectious disease.

Efforts to deliver therapeutic genes are frequently rebuffed by the body's adaptive immune response against viral delivery vectors. Attempts to circumvent this problem using non-viral delivery systems have encountered problems with transient expression and inflammatory responses induced by reaction of the innate immune system reacting against bacterial DNA. However, within the past decade, these barriers to non-viral DNA delivery have been recognized as potential allies in the development of novel vaccines for cancer and infectious disease. This review summarizes preclinical and current clinical studies testing the formulation, delivery route and adjuvant options in the development of novel DNA-based vaccines.