Cancer gene therapy – past, present & future
(Note: all the sources listed in the “Balanced” section)
To the medical community, the premise of
replacing mutated genes with normal corresponding genes have been widely viewed
as a promising treatment for cancer. “Oncogenes” are genes known to promote
malignant tumor growth, whereas “tumor suppressor genes” have the opposite
function as they inhibit tumor formation. The scientific theory of replacing a
mutated tumor suppressor gene for its corresponding normal copy is robust, with
scientists, physicians and biotech entrepreneurs agreeing that the pursue of
gene therapy approaches for the treatment of cancer should become a common goal
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NVBsPfOtT8).
In spite of this enthusiasm, not all investors
are fully convinced, as some remain skeptical about the prospects for cancer
gene therapy.