2 ms·
In spite of this horrible outcome, can this tell researchers anything about what causes the cancer? As in, if they know what happened (the problem with the inse
by docdeek 2y ago
In spite of this horrible outcome, can this tell researchers anything about what causes the cancer? As in, if they know what happened (the problem with the insertion of the gene) then does that tell us anything about what might cause a cancer, and with this knowledge help prevent it or treat it in others?
- gus_massa 2y agoIt's probably very similar to virus causing cancer that is well known https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_causes_of_cancer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_causes_of_cancer It may be helpful to understand why exactly this genetic treatment cused this cancer and fix it for future similar treatments, but not as generic improvement for all cancers.
- LarsDu88 2y agoTo insert the gene, you use lentiviral transfection. The gene can wind up inserted in the wrong location of the genome, causing a mutation. Worst of all, natural selection can happen where landing in a region of the genome that promotes growth (i.e. cancer) will give those off target cells a selective advantage. Inside the petri dish, Darwinian natural selection means the most cancery cells are the fittest. There are ways of mitigating this. Like through selecting and screening monoclonal populations, but right now that process is painstaking and expensive. Alternatively (and concurrently), we could invest into gene insertion technologies with lower probability of off-target effects. Just one of the many reasons a treatment like this is expensive. You need to screen clones from every single patient because the treatment is unique to every single patient.