Based on Your Reading:
Get a Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
Find a Top Mesothelioma Doctor
Access Help Paying for Treatment
p53 Gene Therapy
Table Of Contents
Across all types of cancer, the most common genetic mutation doctors have observed involves the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. Many experimental gene-therapy approaches are based on repairing or replacing defective p53 genes.
Reading Time: 4 mins
Last Edited On: 06/23/2023
Written by Karen Selby, RN • Edited By Walter Pacheco • Medically Reviewed By Dr. Andrea Wolf
Fact Checked
Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
Reviewed
Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
- Assisting mesothelioma patients and their loved ones since 2006.
- Helps more than 50% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed annually in the U.S.
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- 5-star reviewed mesothelioma and support organization.
Testimonials
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
How to Cite Asbestos.com’s Article
APA
Selby, K. (2023, June 23). p53 Gene Therapy. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023, from https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/tumor-based-p53-therapy/
MLA
Selby, Karen. "p53 Gene Therapy." Asbestos.com, 23 Jun 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/tumor-based-p53-therapy/.
Chicago
Selby, Karen. "p53 Gene Therapy." Asbestos.com. Last modified June 23, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/tumor-based-p53-therapy/.
In human DNA, certain genes are responsible for preventing cells from becoming cancerous. The p53 gene is one of the most important of these tumor-suppressor genes.
- Sometimes when healthy cells are exposed to things like asbestos, it can cause damage to their DNA. This damage can make the cells start multiplying and reproducing too much, which leads to tumors.
- The p53 gene prevents this by activating proteins that arrest cell division and repair corrupted DNA.
- When the damage to our DNA cannot be fixed, the p53 gene will start a process called apoptosis. This process helps get rid of cancer cells before they can make more of themselves.
- The p53 gene can also limit blood flow to tumors, which prevents growth and alerts nearby immune cells to attack cancer cells.
When the p53 gene itself is corrupted, however, cells lose a natural safeguard against becoming cancerous. Doctors have observed that more than half of human cancer cases involve mutated p53 genes. Improperly functioning p53 genes allow cancer to spread faster and become more resistant to treatment.
Doctors are trying to figure out how to fix or replace damaged p53 genes in cancer cells. It could help treat different types of cancer. Many researchers believe the emerging science of gene therapy holds the key.
A gene therapy treatment on p53 could be safely combined with traditional cancer treatments. This may increase the overall effectiveness of the treatment plan.
Gene therapy is one of several new treatments that researchers are hoping will bring us closer to a cure for mesothelioma. Another form of gene therapy in development for mesothelioma includes suicide gene therapy.
Vectors for p53 Gene Therapy
The great challenge of gene therapy is to find a reliable way to deliver the tumor-suppressor gene to the cells that need it. Researchers have tried different methods, but none of them has been given the green light from the FDA for mesothelioma treatment.
According to a 2021 research study, approximately 80% to 85% of mesothelioma patients bear the wild-type p53 gene.
Nonreplicating Viruses
Many researchers have tried using genetically engineered viruses to deliver p53 genes to cancer cells. Researchers first remove the dangerous viral DNA from the viruses to ensure they cannot cause an infection in the patient. Then the researchers inject the altered viruses directly into the tumors.
This approach has proven safe, with very mild side effects, but it is currently inefficient for transmitting genes to cancer cells. The harmless viruses may not reach all the cancer cells in the tumor, or the body’s immune system may hunt them down before they can deliver the p53 genes.
Back in 2003, Chinese scientists created a special gene therapy to help people with head and neck cancer. This treatment was called Gendicine and it got the okay from the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration. The American version of the treatment, Advexin, was submitted to the FDA in 2008, but it was not approved.
Oncolytic Viruses
Some researchers are trying to combine gene therapy with virotherapy. Virotherapy uses changed viruses to attack cancer cells while leaving healthy ones alone. Experts have had some success using a type of measles virus to go after mesothelioma cells.
Scientists are trying to make the treatment more successful by adding p53 genes to oncolytic viruses, but they still need to check if it works.
Nanoparticles
Another group of researchers is making tiny particles to carry special genes into cancer cells. Known as synthetic nanoparticles, they could help deliver tumor-suppressor genes like p53.
Nanoparticles are like tiny viruses that can deliver medicine only to cancer cells. That means the healthy cells in your body remain unharmed. They likely won’t make you sick or cause a reaction from your immune system.
Reactivating p53 with Drugs
Scientists are working on a new type of cancer treatment that involves fixing mutated p53 genes. This medicine could be used to treat existing cancers. It might prevent formation by correcting any broken p53 genes before they have a chance to cause problems.
Get Free Recipes for Mesothelioma Patients
Mesothelioma Trust Funds
Find Active Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
