Treating liver cirrhosis in dogs with hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy via the hepatic artery

Background/purpose  

Liver cirrhosis, an irreversible result of chronic liver disease, has had no effective therapy except liver transplantation. We previously reported successful therapy of liver cirrhosis in rats using the hepatocyte growth factor gene. We presently performed hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy in dogs with liver cirrhosis to examine the feasibility for clinical use.