BOSTON -- A new gene therapy study is under way that could provide hope to thousands of Americans with heart disease.

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Patient Hopes For Relief

NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported that the clinical trial will test whether manmade genes injected into the body will encourage the growth of new blood vessels, which could relieve the pain of angina.

Early experiments on gene therapy led to concerns about its safety, but Dr. Roger Laham of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center said newer techniques have produced good results. He said the procedure could one day be another option for patients with few left.

"About 10 percent of patients that have coronary disease may benefit from additional treatment," Laham said. "Ten percent of 1 million angioplasties and 500,000 bypass surgeries -- that's a lot of patients."

Angina sufferer Marc Cadoff wanted to take part in the study because he said he has tried everything to relieve the pain. He said he doesn't know if he received the altered genes or the placebo, but there are many things he's hopeful to be able to do again.

"I want to be able to chop some wood, cut down some trees, go camping, run through the woods -- stuff that I used to do before I had any angina," Cadoff said.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is the only site in the state where the trial is taking place. The hospital is still looking for participants, and anyone interested can call (617) 667-4138.