Separation of genetic instructions for cancer could lead to new treatments



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Using CRISPR, scientists have found a way to target vulnerable cancer genes and destroy them. Chemotherapy may not be an option for cancer treatment in the near future. ( Gerd Altmann | pixabay )

Scientists have discovered a new way to fight cancer. By "dismantling" the cancer of its genes, they are now able to specifically target vulnerable cells.

Thirty types of cancer were used in the experiment and scientists were able to disrupt nearly 20,000 genes in more than 300 laboratory-developed tumors.

Cancer weaknesses

The results of this study were published Wednesday, April 10 in the online scientific journal. Nature. This is thanks to the efforts of scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute that the incredible breakthrough in cancer treatment has been discovered. This includes Dr. Fiona Behan, who lost her mother after contracting cancer for the second time.

"This is so important because at the present time we are treating cancer by treating the patient's entire body.We do not specifically target cancer cells," Dr. Behan said in an interview with BBC.

"The information we found in this study has identified key weak points in cancer cells and will allow us to develop drugs that target cancer and preserve healthy tissue."

Gene editing therapy

Scientists used a genetic technology called "CRISPR". This is a tool used by geneticists to separate and manipulate DNA, the same tool used to rearrange two babies in China in 2018.

In the case of the experiment, they disbadembled 20,000 individual genes from more than 300 laboratory-developed tumors of 30 different cancers, such as colon, lung, pancreas and bad. In doing so, researchers were able to identify 6,000 vulnerable genes that were important for cancer survival.

These results can be used to develop new drugs and drugs specifically targeting these vulnerable genes, which can result in cancer obliteration.

Fast-changing cells

Cancer is the result of the mutation of healthy cells in our body, which makes them crazy and causes tumors. In some cases tumors can be removed / reduced by surgery or radiation.

More commonly, chemotherapy is used to fight against cancer cells. This procedure is very traumatic for the human body because it attacks the entire system rather than cancer. With gene editing therapy, chemotherapy may not be an option in the near future as new drugs will be developed to fight cancer.

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