Hello Dr. Gupta,

As we know, genotypes can not be modified, but they can be modulated. Epigenetic mechanisms could modulate the effect of a certain genotype. For example, if a genotype implies the increase in the expression of the gene, methylation mechanisms can ablate such increase. So, modulating epigenetic mechanisms could be a therapeutical approach to overcome the effect of a genotype. Nevertheless, the therapeutic modulation of epigenetic mechanisms is dificult so far.

Other option is the modulation through the environment, for example through diet. For a variety of cardiovascular risk factors, different bioactive compounds of the diet interact with the genotype and results in different responses to the treatment, in this case the dietary treatment. This is the field of research of nutrigenomics, which is my research field. It could be posible, that some dietary compoun was able to modulate also the effect of a genptype related with tumor prognosis. Studies addressing such possibility still lack.

Thank you,  Linda! Excellent thoughts. I am looking for molecular approach that can be applied to transform the tumor cells in vivo. I wonder if viral based gene delivery can be used somehow.  

Hi Dr. Gupta,

I think that viral-based gene delivery is being tested in aimals for a plethora of malignancies, diseases and syndromes, and it seems a promising approach. I think it is a suitable approoach for monogenic diseases that require the therapy over a single gene or mutation. However, as cancer is a multifactorial disease, usually caused by multiple genetic and epigenetic disturbancies, I wonder if you could apply viral delivery of genes. Perhaps it is possible for genes such as p53, BRCA2, RAS or other genes with a well-known implication in tumour development and cancer prognosis.

But, sincerely, I have no expertise on that.

Regards,