p53-BASED GENE THERAPY (Advexin) by: Hayley Shelby

The therapy THERE ARE TWO CURRENT TYPES OF P53 THERAPY. THE FIRST INCLUDES A NORMAL P53 GENE THAT IS PAIRED WITH A VIRAL VECTOR TO TARGET THE MUTATED P53 GENE IN THE TUMOR. THE SECOND TYPE USES ONYX-015, A TYPE OF COMMON COLD VIRUS. THE P53 GENE IS A COMMON PREDATOR OF THE ONYX-015 AND WILL TRY AND KILL IT ALONG WITH CANCER CELLS WHEN THEY ARE BOTH INJECTED INTO THE TUMOR. BOTH OF THESE TREATMENTS INCLUDE REGULAR CHEMOTHERAPY, BUT ACCORDING TO RECENT TEST RESULTS WHEN PATIENTS USE THE ADVEXIN THERAPY THE PATIENT HAS A HIGHER CHANCE OF SURVIVING THE CANCER.

p53 protein the P53 PROTEIN is IN THE NUCLEUS OF THE CELL AND REGLATES CELL DIVISION AND DEATH. WHEN THE CELL MUTATES, THE P53 PROTEIN STOPS THE DIVISION OF THE CELL SO THAT THE MUTATED DNA DOESN’T SPREAD. WHEN THE P53 PROTEIN ITSELF MUTATES THERE IS GENERALLY A TUMOR FORMING. THIS IS WHEN THE ADVEXIN THERAPY COMES INTO PLAY.

example IN ONE CASE STUDY DONE BY MASSIMO CRISTOFANILLI, M.D., AN ASSOCITATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BREAST MEDICAL ONCOLOGY, 12 PATIENTS WITH 8 CENTEMETER TUMORS IN THEIR BREASTS and injected p53. THE TUMORS ALL SHRUNK MORE THAN 50% TO ABOUT 1.25 CENTEMETERS. THE LYMPHNODES ALSO SHRUNK. THIS DECREASE IN SIZE GAVE MANY OF THE PATIENTS A CHANCE TO GET A LUMPECTOMY AND JUST REMOVE THE TUMOR AND NOT THE WHOLE BREAST. THE REMOVED TUMORS SHOWED A PRESENCE OF CANCER FIGHTING CELLS AND “AN INCREASE IN THE p53 PROTEIN THAT GUARDS AGAINST CANCER DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION” (ANDERSON).

A damaged cell “image a” shows a new tumor cell that was released to something like radiation that mutated their p53 gene, damaged the DNA of the cell, and started creating more damaged cells through the cell cycle. These new cells are what make up a tumor. “Image a”

Bad aspects p53 is a new process, there is no number available on how much it will cost. The process of injecting the P53 gene is followed by regular chemotherapy which turns some people off because they believe they will have the same chances with a commonly therapy. According to hyscience.com “researchers studying p53 function in fruit flies, and reporting in Current Biology, Vol. 15, , November 22, 2005, have shown new evidence that despite the protective role of p53 as a guardian against tumor formation, normal levels of p53 activity--at least in some cell types--may indeed contribute to aging and decreased lifespan”.

One effective Advexin usage as a story states on cancerwise.com two people who had tumors in their lungs that were no longer responsive to chemo or surgery, were offered an experimental treatment to fill their lungs with cancer fighting/destroying p53 genes. “This gene, which normally acts to suppress uncontrolled cell growth, is missing or mutated in about half of human cancers, and dysfunctional in most of the rest”. They also added a common cold vector to bring the p53 into the cancer cell. With two injections two weeks apart of the gene and six weeks of radiation Both of the tumors were destroyed.

WORKS CITED M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University Of Texas. "Novel P53 Gene-based Therapy Boosts Immune System And Reduces Tumor Size." ScienceDaily 10 December March Plus other sources mentioned in the project