Medical research is ongoing into mesothelioma. Experts in the field have worked hard to find treatments and other methods of handling this disease to help those with it live longer and better lives.
One of the newer treatment options under study currently is the use of gene therapy. It is currently in the testing phase but could open up a new option that may one day lead to a cure.
About gene therapy and mesothelioma
Gene therapy involves altering the genetic makeup of mesothelioma cancer cells. Changing these cells weakens them, which makes them more vulnerable to treatment. The idea is to use gene therapy to change these cancer cells so that they are so weak the immune system can kill them without the need for medications or other toxic treatments that lead to a variety of health issues or side effects.
The inner workings of the treatment
In gene therapy studies, researchers have tried various approaches. One of the most promising is injecting the body with a special virus that attaches to the mesothelioma cells. The virus infects these cells so that the immune system’s natural response is able to overtake them and remove them from the body as it would a typical nonlethal infection.
While gene therapy seems incredibly promising and could completely change the way medical professionals treat mesothelioma, it is only in the early stages of study. More time and work have to occur to ensure this is a viable option before introducing this to the general population as a treatment.