In a breakthrough medical discovery, scientists have uncovered a potential cure for a deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and affects the lining of the lungs, heart, and other internal organs.
The discovery was made by scientists at the University of California, San Diego, and published in the journal Nature Medicine. The new treatment combines a novel combination of drugs and gene therapy to target and kill mesothelioma cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.
The groundbreaking treatment is based on a form of gene therapy called CRISPR-Cas9. This technology has been used to edit genes in order to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 in this study to target and knockout the function of a specific gene, known as CD44, which is known to be involved in the growth and spread of mesothelioma.
By targeting this gene, the researchers were able to reduce the growth and spread of mesothelioma cells in mice. The mice treated with the gene therapy survived significantly longer than those that were not treated.
The researchers also combined the gene therapy with two drugs, pemetrexed and cisplatin, to further target and kill mesothelioma cells. The combination of the drugs and gene therapy was able to effectively reduce the size of mesothelioma tumors in the mice.
The findings of this study are an incredible breakthrough in the fight against mesothelioma. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the new treatment could potentially provide a more effective way to treat this deadly cancer.
The researchers are optimistic that their findings will lead to a new, more effective treatment for mesothelioma in the future. This could potentially save thousands of lives and provide hope for those affected by this devastating disease.