NEW THERAPIES OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Key words: Adenoassociate virus, Bone marrow, Cardiac glycosides, Curcumin, Nanoparticles, Pharmacogenomics, Stem cells

Although to date symptomatic therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF) - based on the eradication/ control of opportunistic infections and facilitation of mucus excretion - have rapidly and significantly increased patients survival, an aetiological therapy is still far from being available. There are several ongoing studies with the aim of correcting the underlying defect of the disease ranging from gene therapy to studies on molecules which will help the mutated CFRT gene to correctly express its protein or to make it work better. Stem cell therapy is a promising technique since it does not require the use of vectors, fundamental in gene therapy. Pharmacogenomics will help developing new drugs and identifying new efficacy indicators of these drugs.