Question: Are the genetic codes of cancer cells and the human body, aside from the fact that the gene that controls mitosis is inactive, essentilly the same? If so is there a possibility that you could modify a virus the active the afore mentioned gene, but without harming the rest of the human body?

Rebecca Lacey answered on 26 Jun 2012:

Hi watsonjc06!

First of all, cancer cells usually have two defects – the first is that the gene preventing mitosis is inactive and the second is a gene that promotes mitosis is over-active. So this is the main difference in the genetic code between cancer and other cells. However it is likely that mutations have also caused changes in other genes too.

In theory it is possible to use a virus as a carrier of the normal version of the genes to switch the cells back to normal. This technology has been tested in cystic fibrosis treatment but has so far failed. A more successful approach is to kill the cancer cells. So far chemo- and radio-therapy are used to do this. Research is going on at the moment to stop cancer cells by starving them of blood supply (which they need to grow). This has the advantage of avoiding nasty side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss, and directly targets only the cancer cells.