Gene therapy for cancer is a treatment method for correcting abnormal genes
by introducing tumor suppressor genes into the body.
At this clinic, we provide gene therapy tailored to each individual patient’s genetic makeup
on the basis of a cancer genetic diagnosis.
Contained within the genetic material in our cells are “cancer genes” which create cancer cells and “tumor suppressor genes” that can suppress cancer cells. In healthy people, the balance between cell division and suppression is maintained, preventing the continued increase of cancerous cells.
However, as a result of various causes related to diet, lifestyle, stress etc., tumor suppressor genes can become damaged, disrupting this balance and allowing cancerous cells containing abnormal genes to reproduce without limit.
Normal cells are equipped with a mechanism for repairing damaged genes, and there is also a mechanism allowing cells which are too damaged to repair themselves to self destruct(apoptosis). However, in the case of cancerous cells, these mechanisms do not function correctly.Moreover, due to variations which occur when the cancerous cells replicate, anti-cancer drugs and radiation treatments which work during the initial stages can become progressively less effective.
The means by which genetic material becomes damaged varies between individuals. For example, even within a single diagnosis such as “lung cancer,” the damaged (altering) genes will vary between patients.The 131-item genetic diagnosis helps determine exactly which genes are affected by abnormalities.
With this diagnosis we are able to provide cancer gene therapy based on a thorough understanding of the genetic abnormalities involved.