Potential Role of Growth Factors in the Management of Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE: To review central nervous system growth factors and their therapeutic potential and clinical translation into spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as the challenges that have been encountered during clinical development. METHODS: A systemic review of the available current and historical literature regarding central nervous system growth factors and clinical trials regarding their use in spinal cord injury was conducted. RESULTS: The effectiveness of administering growth factors as a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI has been tested with the use of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin 3, and neurotrophin-4/5. Delivery of growth factors to injured SC has been tested by numerous methods. Unfortunately, most of clinical trials at this time are uncontrolled and have questionable results because of lack of efficacy and/or unacceptable side effects. CONCLUSIONS: There is promise in the use of specific growth factors therapeutically for SCI. However, more studies involving neuronal regeneration and functional recovery are needed, as well the development of delivery methods that allow sufficient quantity of growth factors while restricting their distribution to target sites.