Gene therapy of pituitary diseases.

Despite a stuttering course, gene therapy continues to provide a potential treatment avenue for many human diseases, including cancer and various inherited disorders. Gene therapy is also attractive for the treatment of local, benign disorders, such as pituitary adenomas. Advances in technology have focused on modifying existing viral vectors and developing targeted expression of therapeutic genes in an effort to achieve efficacy with minimal toxicity. Gene therapy also offers innovative strategies for treating hypopituitarism by replacing hormones such as growth hormone (GH) and vasopressin.