The war against cancer is fought on many fronts . Surgery , drug , preventive vaccinations , support for healthier life style , and lenitive care are essential in the battle against this dreadful disease . genetical modification is another cock in use and it has been show some promising new resultant role . The latest one has Crab cells turning on and killing off their own sibling .

The experimental glide slope uses a   gene - editing technique known as CRISPR to reprogram cancer cells that have departed the original tumor to actually go back home and kill the tumour from which they originated . These “ home assassins ” have been try out successfully in three dissimilar malignant tumor in computer mouse . The results are published in theJournal of Translational Medicine .

" This is just the tip of the iceberg lettuce , " order corresponding author Dr Khalid Shah from Harvard Medical School and Harvard Stem Cell Institute in astatement . " Cell - based therapies hold tremendous promise for delivering alterative agent to neoplasm and may provide handling options where standard therapy has failed .

" With our proficiency , we show it is possible to reverse - applied scientist a patient ’s own Cancer the Crab cells and use them to treat cancer . We think this has many implications and could be applicable across all cancer cell types . "

The squad take reward of many cancer cells ’ self - homing ability . It ’s this ability that cancer apply to spread to other areas of the same reed organ , or to dissimilar organs . This is a “ long suit ” of aggressive types of Crab that the squad has been capable to turn it into a impuissance .

The squad used two different approaches . The first used “ off - the - ledge ” neoplasm cellphone that were genetically engineered to have the subject ’s resistant fingermark . The second approach alternatively had the Crab cells from the subject edited with therapeutic molecules inserted in . Both approaches also had putting to death - switches given to the homing cancer cell .

The two approaches were tested in mouse manikin that suffer from primary brain genus Cancer , recurrent brain cancer , and breast cancer that had diffuse to the genius . The team come up evidence of the killer cells ' success in eliminate tumour and showed that this treatment increase the survival of the computer mouse .

" Our study demonstrates the therapeutical electric potential of using engineered tumour cells and their ego - homing properties for developing sensory receptor - target therapeutics for various malignant neoplastic disease , " add Shah .

The inquiry is still in the early stage but it has a pot of potential drop .