Cancer | Communicating Science (2012w201)

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New Device Makes Cancer Detection Easier!

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Gagan Gill | 2 comments

One of the most feared diseases in the world is cancer. This deadly disease is predicted to occur in about 42% of all North Americans. The mechanism of cancer development starts with damage to a cell’s DNA causing it to grow and divide uncontrollably. Eventually, these cells drain other tissue of nutrients and change how our body functions, leading to serious illness and in most cases death. Despite all this, if cancer is detected early enough, a full recovery is possible. Traditionally, the problem with cancer has been that it is very hard to detect, and that when it is detected, it has already started to spread to other parts of body through the blood. However, researches at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a device that can grab cancer cells from the blood.

Image shows a lab technician analyzing a blood sample. Image courtesy of nita lind

Image shows a lab technician analyzing a blood sample. Image courtesy of Flicr user: nita lind

Researchers are calling this new device the “NanoVelcro” chip. The way that this device works is that when blood is passed through the chip, small hairs coated with antibodies matching those of cancer cells trap cancer cells, allowing for them to be isolated and examined. The researchers reported that this new device was able to isolate single cancer cells in the blood. Dr. Tseng and his research team from UCLA believe that this device will help doctors analyze and determine the specific cancer a patient might have, the genetic characteristics of the person’s cancer, and the type of treatment that the patient should receive. Also, this new method of detecting cancer cells will help detect cancer much earlier, potentially saving millions of lives.

Oncologist providing radiation therapy to a cancer patient. Image provided by Flickr user: Tiptimes

Oncologist providing radiation therapy to a cancer patient. Image provided by Flickr user: Tipstimes

With this new advancement, we will be better able to detect cancer cells in the blood and prevent them from spreading to other organs in the body, which has been a major problem in the treatment of cancer. Also, by taking blood samples throughout the treatment of a cancer patient, doctors will be able to more accurately determine drug resistance and change treatment accordingly.

Below is a short video explaining how cancer spreads through the body, and the major problems with early detection.

So, with new technology and advancements, it is becoming easier and easier to detect and treat cancer. This new device will help treat millions of people and save their lives. This is a major break through considering the fact that so many people either develop or are directly affected by this disease.

– Gagandeep Gill

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Posted in Science in the News

Tagged biotechnology, Cancer, medicine, treatment methods

Gene therapy, newly developed treatment approved in Europe

Posted on February 10, 2013 by kmin | 2 comments

Genes (composed of deoxyribonucleic acid, also known as DNA) function as the biological determinants of heredity that exhibit traits, such as eye color and they are located on chromosomes inside cells.

Gene therapy

Gene therapy is an experimental treatment that involves introducing genetic material (DNA or RNA) into a person’s cells to fight or prevent disease. It facilitates our body by providing the genes in needs, or correct copies of defective genes that may potentially cause genetic disorders. So far, researchers are studying gene therapy in clinical trials to suit different types of cancer and other various diseases, such as hemophilia B, Parkinson’s disease, and HIV.

Several approaches are being attempted in order to cure diseases via gene therapy. First of all, mutated genes that cause diseases are replaced with healthy copies of the genes. Also, mutated genes that are functioning improperly are inactivated. Finally, new genes are introduced into the body to help fighting against diseases.

Generally, a gene cannot be directly inserted into a person’s cell. So, a vector, which is used to deliver a gene to a person’s cell, is used. Virus is the most commonly used vector in gene therapy. Although the viruses are genetically altered to be safe and carry normal human DNA, some risks still exist with gene therapy.

Gene therapy was not available outside a clinical trial until recently. Since 1990, hundreds of clinical trials have been conducted and most have failed as it was difficult to deliver the genes and keep them activated for a long time. Also, the incident of a teenager’s death during a clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 brought the safety concerns on the surface. However, researchers have been slowly overcoming the obstacles and in the last few years there have been reports of successes in attempts to treat cancer, hemophilia B, certain immune diseases and a condition that causes blindness.

After all, gene therapy was first officially approved in Europe. The European Medicines Agency has recommended the application of a gene therapy to treat rare genetic diseases. This was actually the very first regulatory approval of a gene therapy drug in the Western world. Also, a gene therapy to treat cancer won an approval in China in 2003.

As illustrated, a gene therapy has been a controversial topic and it was successful in establishing realistic procedure in the world. Still it is not such a common method that we encounter in the medical field. As it was proven to be beneficial and effective in treating number of symptoms, our deeper attention and acknowledgement regarding this content would be an advantageous step in discovering a new tool to cure diseases.

Here is a video more detailed descriptions about the gene therapy.