Gene Therapy and Cancer :: Genetics Science Technology Medical Essays

Gene Therapy and CancerIn 1997, an estimated 1.38 million Ameri tail ends give be newly diagnosed with domiciliatecer (Blaese, 1997). The treatments available just now cure half of them. Many new strategies, including divisor therapy ar in maturemental stages for treating cancer. Nearly half of all gene therapy trials currently at a lower place way deal with cancer and experts believe a number of these applications will be in use within the next three to five years (Lyon, 1997). Cancer is considered a genetic disorder. Studies have identified a small number of genes that must be mutated to bring about development of cancer or brinytain the growth of malignant electric cells (Klug, 1996). Two main properties of cancer are uncontrollable cell division and the ability to blossom forth or metastasize. Both are results of genetic alterations. Mutations in the cells that lead to first forms of cancer, can be identified as inherited in some(prenominal) families. In most cases, h owever, it is difficult to identify a simple intent of inheritance. There are two ways to regulate cell division. mavin way is with tumor suppresser gene genes, which usually function to inactivate or repress cell division. These genes or their products or both, must be inactivated sporadically for cell division of take place. If they are permanently inactivated or lose through mutation, uncontrolled cell division occurs. Another way cell division is regulated is by proto-oncogenes, which usually promotes cell division also. These genes can be in an on or off mode and when in the on mode, cell division is promoted. When the genes or their products or both are inactivated, cell division is stopped. If they are permanently switched on, cell standard is stopped and tumor formation begins. Oncogenes are the mutant form of proto-oncogenes. An congressman of a transformation of a proto-oncogene to an oncogene is the p53 gene, which encodes a nuclear protein that acts as a transcrip tion factor. The p53 gene is usually a tumor suppressor gene that controls passage of the cell from one phase of mitosis to another. The mutations in p53 gene are estimated to be associated with over half of all cancers. The most ordinary cause of death in cancer patients is metastasis, where cancer cells detach from the original tumor site and settle elsewhere in the body, to grow and class producing another tumor. There are two kinds of tumors, benign and malignant. Benign tumors can be removed and usually do not return.