Gene Editing Technology May Hold the Key to Curing Mesothelioma
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Gene Editing Technology May Hold the Key to Curing Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

New research on gene editing technology for cancer suggests that it could be the key to one day curing intractable cancers like malignant mesothelioma. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have used a technology called CRISPR to dramatically extend the lives of mice with some of the most serious kinds of cancer.  Gene editing technology alters the genes of cancer cells so they cannot replicate. The Israeli team found a way to make it target cancer cells.   It could be the breakthrough that many mesothelioma doctors have been hoping for.  Genes and Mesothelioma The genetic material inside a person’s cells determines how those cells will behave. Genes encode for proteins which give signals to cells. Gene editing technology aims to change…

CRISPR Gene Editing Technique and the Future of Mesothelioma Treatment
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CRISPR Gene Editing Technique and the Future of Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

The powerful CRISPR gene editing technique might have a role to play in the future of mesothelioma treatment. CRISPR is a method for altering certain genes to help fight disease. This week, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania released data from the first study of CRISPR in US cancer patients.  It was only a safety study, but the results are promising. They could have wide-ranging implications for patients fighting aggressive cancers like malignant mesothelioma.  Modifying Genes To Help Fight Cancer The CRISPR gene editing technique is a simplified version of the method bacteria cells use to defend themselves against viruses. This antiviral defense system is called CRISPR-Cas9. The new Penn Medicine study involved just three cancer patients. Two of the…