Gene therapy may become a more reliable treatment option thanks to a method that can predict where a new gene will be inserted in the recipient’s genome, reports New Scientist.
So far, gene therapy relies on the use of retroviruses that insert genes into the patient’s cells. However, these genes do not always go to the right place, which can lead to complications such as cancer.
To better understand this process, Jeremy Luban and his colleagues at the University of Geneva analyzed the results of previous studies, looking for a link between the site of gene insertion and the properties of DNA. For 3 out of 12 retroviruses, it was possible to find a group of proteins, the presence of which allowed to predict the place of gene insertion with an accuracy of 75%.
According to experts, thanks to the results of Swiss studies, it should be possible to more accurately calculate the chance of a favorable outcome and the risk of complications (PAP).