Fibroblast growth factor in extremities

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is recognized as one of the major angiogenic factors. Among the FGF family members, FGF-1 (acidic fibroblast growth factor, aFGF) and FGF-2 (basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF) have been extensively studied at both preclinical and clinical stages for applications in therapeutic angiogenesis. In vivo studies have reported various synergistic effects of FGF-2, and gene therapy has achieved promising results in early preclinical studies. However, few clinical trials have been conducted. In this chapter, we provide an overview and future perspectives of the progression of research into angiogenic gene therapy with FGF for peripheral artery disease. The focus of a new gene transfer vector based on a non-transmissible recombinant Sendai virus that expresses the human FGF-2 gene is also introduced as a frontier of therapeutic angiogenesis in this field.