Engineered Cell Therapy: A Successful Approach to Treat Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is the abnormality which happens in the cell cycle, resulting in uncontrolled cell division and is the second largest cause of deaths in the world accounting 13% of all deaths followed by the cardiovascular diseases. Finding a therapeutic solution for cancer is a continuous process. A number of therapeutic approaches like chemotherapy, preventive therapies, radiation and magnetic therapy, adjuvant therapy, Immunotherapy, gene therapy, cell transplantation therapy, Hyperthermia and surgery are under research in order to treat cancer. Targeted therapy is the most preferred way to treat cancer globally and researchers are focusing on the different ways of targeted therapy. Gene therapy with its first approved drug for cancer (Gendicine™) in China revolutionized the cancer drugs but a number of questions in scientific community around the world and its rejection in European and American market raised question marks on its authenticity as cancer drug. Successful clinical trials for mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) and engineered cells based therapy against cancer emerged the concept of gene and cell therapy for cancer and a number of clinical trials also produced successful results in this case. Engineered cells are new agents of targeted cancer therapy and have been considered by researchers, as a promising therapeutic candidates. Engineered cell therapy (combination of gene and cell therapy) as a part of targeted therapy of cancer may provide a valuable resource. T-Cell engineering has faced successful results, whereas MSC engineering is passing through a transition phase. Successful engineering of MSCs could be a hope for cancer patients in near future.