‘Suicide’ gene therapy kills prostate cancer cells

US scientists have discovered a new gene therapy technique able to modify prostate cancer cells so that a patient’s body attacks and kills them.

The technique causes the tumour cells in the body to self-destruct, giving it the name ‘suicide gene therapy’.
Their research found a 20% improvement in survival in patients with prostate cancer five years after treatment.
A cancer expert said more research was needed to judge its effectiveness.

The study, led by researchers from Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas’ , appears to show that this ‘suicide gene therapy’, when combined with radiotherapy, could be a promising treatment for prostate cancer in the future.

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The technique involves the cancer cells being genetically modified so that they signal a patient’s immune system to attack them.
Usually, the body does not recognise cancer cells as the enemy because they have evolved from normal healthy cells.

Unlike an infection, which the body reacts against, the immune system does not react to kill off the offending cancer cells.
Using a virus to carry the gene therapy into the tumour cells, the result is that the cells self-destruct, alerting the patient’s immune system that it is time to launch a massive attack.

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