This is a first step in showing that we can restore a normal, functioning gene in a cancer cell, a gene that normally causes that cell to be cancerous when it's defective.
In time, targeted gene therapy may help improve the outlook for many types of cancer. While we have a long way to go, I am increasingly optimistic about new gene therapy approaches to earlier treatment and, ultimately, to a strategy that may help prevent cancer development.
The healthy P-53 gene can then begin to trigger the self-destruction program for the cancer cell.