In the early 1970s, gene therapy was utilized for the first time to modify the genome or biological characteristics of living cells. Viral vectors have emerged as a promising method for transferring genes in therapeutic applications, due to their ability to infect a host cell and replicate. Adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, gamma-retroviruses, and lentiviruses are among the significant virus classes that have been studied in research trials so far and the first lentiviral gene delivery system was created by Naldini et al. in 1996.
However, despite the promising results, long-term patient monitoring is crucial to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vectors used over an extended period. This monitoring is necessary because viral vectors can have unintended consequences, such as activating oncogenes or causing immune reactions. Therefore, researchers and clinicians must continue to gather data and insights into the long-term effects of lentiviral vectors to ensure their safe and effective use in gene therapy.