Genetic basis of intramedullary spinal cord tumors and therapeutic implications

The advent of molecular biology has provided tools to delineate genetic mut ations that cause disease. Recently, several genetic mutations have been as sociated with intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Concurrently, advances in micro-neurosurgical techniques have significantly decreased the morbidity o f surgical resection. In this review, we describe the current understanding of genetic mutations in sporadic and familial intramedullary spinal cord t umors. The future success of innovative gene therapy protocols may depend u pon establishing a cause and effect relationship between these genetic muta tions and disease progression. Successful gene therapy will also depend upo n increasing the efficiency of gene therapy vector delivery.