The potential application of ribozymes for the treatment of hematological disorders

With the identification and increasing understanding of the genes involved in neoplastic transformation has come the realization that abrogation of th ese genes' products may lead to cell death or a return to normalcy. The use of ribozymes and their nucleic acid cousins, antisense oligodeoxynucleotid es (ODNs), are two such ways of perturbing the disease-related gene express ion, This review will loot at the development and application of ribozymes to abrogate gene expression, with particular relevance to hematological set tings. Some examples of antisense ODNs will also be mentioned where appropr iate.