Investigating cancer-associated mechanisms are indispensable to properly diagnose cancer patients, improve their treatment and prevention methods, and ensure their long and better-quality lives. Cancer is considered a disease of genes. Several cancer-associated genes so far have been discovered.
Gene therapy for cancer is transforming the way we fight tumors—moving beyond surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to treatments that reprogram our very genes. From CAR-T cell therapy to CRISPR breakthroughs, discover how this cutting-edge science is reshaping the future of oncology while balancing hope with real-world challenges.
Introduction: Why Apoptosis-Regulating Genes Matter Did you know that every day, billions of our body cells die naturally and are safely removed? Scientifically, this self-cleaning process, called apoptosis or programmed cell death, is not only essential for healthy tissue development but also a powerful defense mechanism against numerous proliferative diseases including cancer. On average, 50 to 70 billion cells die each…
Understanding the Role of DNA Repair Genes DNA replication is a high-stakes process happening billions of times across the human body daily. With so much cellular division, damage from oxidative stress, environmental mutagens, or replication errors is inevitable. As a result, DNA Repair Genes encode proteins that identify and fix this damage, acting as a defense…
Introduction: What Are Tumor Suppressor Genes? Tumor suppressor genes are a critical group of genes that help regulate the cell cycle, maintain DNA integrity, and prevent the development of tumors. Tumor suppressor genes perform the role of cellular gatekeepers by actively monitoring cell division and controlling it to prevent unchecked proliferation. These genes detect damage…
Introduction: When Growth Signals Go Haywire In general, cells thrive in a delicately balanced environment, governed by complex genetic instructions. Among these instructions are proto-oncogenes, genes that ensure timely cell growth, differentiation, and repair. But a single mutation can tip the balance. When proto-oncogenes mutate into oncogenes (modified version of proto-oncogenes), they drive unregulated cell proliferation, one of the…
Introduction: What Are Cancer Genes and Why Do They Matter? Cancer genes are specific segments of DNA that, when altered, contribute to the development or progression of cancer. These genes commonly include oncogenes that promote cell growth and tumor suppressor genes that prevent uncontrolled cell division. However, numerous genes belong to different categories also participate in promoting cancer…
Introduction: The Hidden Molecular Damage of Tobacco Smoke Tobacco smoking is a leading but preventable cause of different types of cancers worldwide. Head and neck cancer (HNC) affects thousands worldwide, with tobacco smoke being one of its leading causes. But how exactly does smoking damage DNA and lead to cancer? A groundbreaking study by Torrens et al. (2025) published in Nature Genetics reveals the…
Introduction Metastasis is more than just a word in cancer biology—it’s the reason why over 90% of cancer-related deaths occur. Despite tremendous advancements in oncology, metastasis remains the most complex and poorly understood hallmark of cancer. In this blog post, we explore the molecular principles of metastasis to uncover how cancer spreads? What is Metastasis? A Multi-Step Biological Cascade…
Background of Cancer Genetics Cancer Genetics is the combination of two words (Cancer and Genetics). The first word “Cancer” describes a group of diseases, i.e., cancer is not a single disease. Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled growth and the spread of mutant body cells to other parts of the body. Metabolically these mutant body cells are more active than normal…
