Cancer Virus

2001/08/30 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika
• Medikuntza

Half or half of known cancers have a common characteristic: they have a mutation in the gene called p53. The p53 gene knows the signal that DNA is damaged; when this signal appears, the p53 protein accumulated in the cell nucleus prevents the copy of damaged DNA or, if not, encourages it to die.

But in mutated cells p53 proteins are not produced, these processes are not produced correctly and cancer is produced. Working with the p53 gene, it is believed that specific cancer treatments can be sought and, precisely, in Switzerland a hopeful discovery has been made: the team of researcher Peter Beard has detected a virus that only kills cells with mutation in p53 gene.

The finding took place when the associated adenobirus tried to synthesize them in the laboratory. Among the cells contaminated with an associated adenovirus, the death of those that did not contain p53 proteins was detected. The surprise became a line of research and began working with mice. Then, they saw that the associated adenobirus reduced the size of mouse tumors.

No damage

Several clinical trials are underway for cell death with the p53 gene mutated by genetically modified adenobiruses. But the adenovirus associated with the Swiss group offers a great advantage: unlike Adenobirus, it has no capacity to make man sick.

However, it is still early to start moving forward. They have only begun to break the road.