Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide. It arises as a result of various driver mutations in lung cells, such as translocations, insertions, deletions or nucleotide substitutions. These mutations can alter gene expression or lead to gene disruption or the formation of fusion proteins. The expression of oncogenes affects cellular metabolism and leads to the synthesis of metabolites that enable the clonal expansion of tumour cells. As a result, tumours develop in the lungs. Their microenvironments and causative mutations can be highly heterogeneous, making tumour identification and genotyping very challenging. Methods such as immunohistochemistry, FISH, various forms of PCR, melting curve analysis (HRM), DNA microarrays and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are most commonly used to identify and genotype mutations. In particular, NGS analyses now allow us to obtain detailed information about a tumour’s genetics, which can enable targeted therapy. New targeted gene therapies primarily rely on CRISPR/Cas technology, which is delivered to tumour cells using nanoparticles. The goal of the ongoing development of targeted gene therapies is to improve treatment efficacy while minimising side effects.
|
