A report in “The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal” describes a new gene therapy vector which can transfer DNA to a cell’s nucleus far more efficiently than in the past. The development raises hopes for more effective treatment of genetic disorders and some types of cancers.
Gene therapy vectors deliver therapeutic DNA to a cell’s nucleus, where it reprograms a cell to function properly. “Effective gene therapy is clearly the best way to treat heritable diseases. It’s also an approach to other diseases where the environment or infection messes up our genes,” states Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of “The FASEB Journal”.
The research conducted at the Nuclear Signaling Laboratory at Monash University in Victoria, Australia used proteins that mimic key functions of viruses for the packaging and transport of therapeutic DNA. “This work opens up a new era of pharmaceutical development,” according to Weissmann.
Melanoma tumors with particular genetic mutations might respond to the drug lapatinib, already licensed for treating breast cancer tumors. Such a therapy would treat malignant melanoma in advanced stages with the common mutation called ERBB4 or HER4.
The study, conducted by the US National Human Genome Research Institute opens the door to pursuing specific therapies that may prove useful for the treatment of melanoma with ERBB4 mutations. It also highlights a new approach to cancer research and treatment in which cancers are categorized according to the pattern of genetic mutations present.
Drugs that can target precise mutations could then be selected to personalize treatment to a tumor’s genetic characteristics. Tumors occuring in different parts of the body might sometimes be amenable to similar treatment strategies if they share similar genetic mutations, such as the breast and the skin.
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Research from the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel shows that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces the risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women. The study indicates a reduction of risk by more than half in women taking combined estrogen-progestin oral pills.
The study adjusted for demographics, aspirin and statin use, sports activity, family history of colorectal cancer, and vegetable consumption. Women who took aspirin or played sports did not demonstrate a risk reduction. Researchers caution that further study is necessary to understand the causes for such differences.
The study, published in the online “Journal of Clinical Oncology”compared the self-reported use of HRT from 2,460 peri/postmenopausal women among 2,648 patients with colorectal cancer and 2,566 controls. Results showed a 63 percent relative reduction in risk of colorectal cancer after adjustment for other known risk factors.
Highlights from a presentation given by James L. Oschman, PhD at the 17th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine entitled, Energetic Aspects of Aging.
James L. Oschman, Ph.D. is a cell biologist and biophysicist. He has published about 90 papers in both leading scientific journals and in complementary medicine journals. He has also written two books on energy medicine, and lectures internationally on the subject. His investigations of the living connective tissue matrix provide the basis for powerful applications of energetics to anti-aging medicine.
