Improved treatment of cancer in the near future?
In the treatment of cancer have been made in the last decades a lot of progress. Researchers have now dissected cancer cells, into the smallest pieces, the weaknesses of the disease better to uncover. As a result, some new ideas and strategies for the treatment of cancer.
In a current study of the Wellcome-Sanger Institute’s new approach could be identified for the treatment of cancer. The results of the study were published in the English journal “Nature”.
Current treatments are not targeted to cancer cells
The study included 30 different types of cancer. In the investigation of approximately 600 new vulnerabilities of cancer cells are disclosed, each of which could be the target of a drug. An improved treatment of cancer is urgently needed because current treatment methods such as chemotherapy, damage the body strong and only a limited promise of success. In this therapy, the entire body is also affected, and the treatments are not aimed directly at the cancer cells, say the researchers.
Treat cancers without damaging healthy tissue
The information revealed in this study, have important weaknesses in the cancer cells is identified and will make it possible to develop medicines on the cancer target and the healthy tissue undamaged. Cancer is caused by mutations in our body’s cells, which change the DNA written instructions. Mutations allow the cells to grow out of control, so that they spread in the body, which eventually leads to the death of the person Concerned.
Researchers used controversial CRISPR technology
In the study of any genetic instruction (Gene) has been disabled diseases within cancer. It should be noted that the instructions for the Survival of a crucial importance. More than 300 grown in the laboratory, tumors from 30 different cancer types, the researchers stripped 20.000 genes, almost. For this they used a technology called CRISPR. With this genetic engineering were constructed in the past year, two babies in China, genetically, what is called big international discussions. It is a relatively new, simple and cheap Instrument for the Manipulation of DNA. A decade ago such a study would therefore have been unthinkable.
600 new points of attack for drugs
The new results reveal 600 essential genes, which requires at least one type of cancer to Survive. Some of them, however, were for the development of anti-cancer drugs are unsuitable because they are also for the healthy cells is essential. Others are already the target of precision drugs, such as Herceptin in breast cancer. But many genes have not yet been taken into account in the production of suitable drugs. Therefore, the researchers have determined a shortlist of 600 potential new points of attack for drugs.
What is the WRN?
A potential goal of the Werner syndrome RecQ helicase is also easier than WRN are known. It is essential to have some of the genetically unstable cancer types. WRN plays an important role in about 15 percent of colon cancers and 28 per cent of cancers of the stomach, however, there is no medications aimed.
Researchers Cancer Dependency Map plan to develop
The ultimate goal of the research is to develop a so-called Cancer Dependency Map for every weak spot for every type of cancer. Then Doctors could test the Tumor of a patient and provide him with a Cocktail of precision drugs, to kill cancer cells. So cancer cells could be fought selectively, without harming the entire body, like chemotherapy. This research work provides some excellent starting points, and the next step will be a thorough analysis of the genes identified in this study as weaknesses, so as to determine whether they may one day lead to the development of new treatment methods for patients. (as)