Gene Therapy
Genes make up the different portions of heredity. They are carried through chromosomes throughout the body that sequence themselves in order to make protein for the body to function properly. The protein that is generated from the gene sequence often times does not get recognized as much as it should. Proteins are responsible for most of life's daily functions in the body and make up a large amount of cellular structure. When gene formation is altered, it is almost like a domino effect. Proteins are unable to carry out functions that they are naturally prepared to do.
Gene therapy is an innovative way to transform defective genes into those that are non-disease threatening. Doctors can perform this technique in a number of different ways. A healthy gene can be inserted in a section of the gene sequence in order to replace the faulty gene. If an abnormal gene is found, it can be replaced with a new, healthy gene. The abnormal gene can be repaired through methods such as reverse mutation which makes it perform necessary functions again. Lastly, the degree in which a gene is turned on or off can be altered. Doctors perform a therapeutic method by using a carrier module in order to target the cell that needs to be replaced or fixed. Medical professionals use this method as a common practice because it is able to manipulate the virus and in turn remove the disease causing diseases by inserting the therapeutic gene.
One of the most common instances for using gene therapy is when there is a disease that is affects the lungs. Unfortunately, diseases of the lungs such as mesothelioma are not curable. Patients look for new and innovative treatments to relieve their symptoms and lead more comfortable lives while going through treatment to fight of the disease. Gene therapy has been a success in providing treatment for a mesothelioma patient because it replaces diseased genes with new ones that are medically targeted to die when it is exposed to cancerous enlargements. This causes a decrease in the number of bad gene cells throughout infected area of the body. Doctors have found this an effective way to slow down the cancer cell production with fewer side effects than harsher treatments.
There is no guarantee, however, that this type of process will work with every person that has a life threatening disease. Also, it is not proven to be 100% effective for those patients who are in the later stages of mesothelioma. It has been researched that many of the positive changes in patient's condition happen when the mesothelioma is in the first stage of treatment. There are still a variety of clinical trials being done to determine what doctors can do to help gene therapy cause more success stories and let individuals suffering from lung related illnesses to have a better outcome for quality and length of life.
