Suicide

gene therapy Suicide gene therapy is an emerging field of gene therapy aimed at treating cancer and other genetic diseases. The goal of this type of gene therapy is to introduce a gene known as the “suicide gene” into the patient's cells which can be activated by exposure to a certain drug. When the gene is activated, it sends a signal for the cell to self-destruct thereby selectively killing the cancer cells and leaving the healthy cells intact. This type of therapy may eventually offer a more targeted and effective cancer treatment than current therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation. It may also be used to treat other genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington disease, and sickle cell anemia.