Cancer is a collection of diseases, where the cells grow in an uncontrolled manner. This growth can result in the destruction of normal adjacent tissues. Cancer cells can spread to distant organs. One in three people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. A number of treatments are currently available but because of the way they work these treatments can often destroy non-cancerous cells as well as the cancer cells. Biotechnology treatments are being designed to be cancer specific reducing or preventing damage to non-cancerous tissue.
Antibodies
A number of antibodies are approved for treatment for a number of cancers. These antibodies are designed to recognize a protein specific to cancer cells. The antibodies can be designed to stimulate the immune system to kill the cancer cells an example is Rituximab. Some antibodies inhibit proteins attaching to their receptors and that stops the cells growing and dividing. While some antibodies have been designed to carry other agents into the cancer cells and result in death of the cancer cell.
Nanomedicine
Nanoparticles are exceedingly small particles, because of their small size they have unique properties and can enter cells. Studies such as those published in August 2010 in "Cancer Research" show that the use of nanoparticles may improve both the imaging of cancers, and also the treatment of cancers. Nanoparticles such as iron oxide can deliver therapies which prevent gene expression. A further study published in 2010 in "Pharmaceutical Research" showed that nanoparticles can deliver chemotherapy specifically to cancer cells and promote cell death through hyperthermia.
Gene Therapy
Laboratory studies are currently examining the potential of replacing lost or missing genes in the cancer cells. Others, are studying the addition of "suicide genes" into cancer cells to cause the cancer cells to die. The main concern is how to transfer the genes into the cancer cells. Experimental studies are currently using viruses or fatty vesicles and nanoparticles.
