Genetic pathways to starve cancer cells

This article is about gene therapy to starve specific types of kidney cancers. From this study a new class of drugs is being studied. They will inhibit cancer cells from generating the energy needed to survive. The new drugs will alter the gene expression in the cancerous cells and block the cells from using aerobic respiration. Approximately 1.5% of the United States population will be diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer. The drug will cause hypoxia-inducible factors to be initiated. These are factors that are normally found in cells during a period of hypoxia, thus starving the cancerous cells. Another possibility is 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG). 2DG is a glycolic inhibitor that in lab tests inhibited glycolysis and killed the tumor cells. The gene therapy treatment presented in this article would provide a noninvasive treatment with minimal side effects. This is a much better alternative to the current treatment of chemo-radiation.

I choose this article because it is addressing a hot topic of health, cancer. It is presents a unique and possible solution to specific forms of cancer. This new treatment could improve/save the lives of approximately 1.5% of the US population.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110330111355.htm