Gene therapy for mesothelioma is a new treatment procedure that involves modifying the patients’ genes. These altered genes are acting like “suicide cells”, attacking and destroying any mesothelioma cancer cells they encounter.
The altered “suicide genes” are implanted with the help of mesothelioma surgery directly into the tumor, and it will only affect the tumor. What this gene actually does is make the normal ineffective mesothelioma drugs have a greater effect in destroying cancer cells. It tricks the drug into thinking that the cancer cells are actually part of a viral infection, attacking only cancer cells and leaving healthy cells unharmed.
In combination with gene therapy for mesothelioma doctors can also use Iressa as an EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), and some times with interferons.
Mesothelioma Gene therapy procedure
Mesothelioma gene therapy, similar to other treatment methods, needs to be performed in a certain way:
- The procedure begins by inserting a chest tube into the chest cavity
- Into that tube a syringe is placed
- The syringe is filled with cytokine protein rich suicide cells that are placed inside the designated tumor
- The cells that were treated with the suicide cells are instantly killed when exposed to the drugs
Mesothelioma Gene therapy types
There are two main types that a mesothelioma gene therapy procedure can be performed:
- Knockout gene therapy – this type attacks the genes that cause cancer and stop them from evolving
- Replacement gene therapy – cancer is caused by abnormal cell growth and that is caused by some faulty genes. These genes are replaced or repaired.
This is a basic procedure that doesn’t pose any kind of risks. It easily performed on patients that have already gone through mesothelioma thoracoscopy surgery, because the chest is already implanted. Recovery is fast and risk free, because after some intense clinical trials doctors will know exactly what mesothelioma drugs and ailments to better suit the needs of the patient while recovering. Doctors that study this disease are positive with gene therapy and recommend it to patients all the time, mainly because most of the time gene therapy doesn’t cause any side effects.
Mesothelioma gene therapy should be completely covered by insurance. If that isn’t the case, patients can find a doctors’ office that will accept to perform the procedure in payments.
More on mesothelioma gene therapy
Would you like to learn more about mesothelioma gene therapy, and how it can help you? You can contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers, absolutely free, and we will provide all the information you need.