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The changes in the genes results in cancer. The gene therapy treatment is designed to alter the cancer cells at molecular level and replace bad or missing gene with healthy one. The novel gene is delivered to the target cell by means of a vector, which is generally a tiny fat bubble (liposome) or an inactive virus.

There are different types of gene therapies that researchers are working with such as;

Boosting the immune response – This type of gene therapy aim’s to boost the immune cells to attack cancer cells. Some of the immune cells produce proteins that promote other immune cells to destroy cancerous cells. Some gene therapies add genes to the individual’s immune cells to improve them at destroying or finding specific types of cancer.

Gene therapies to facilitate cancer treatments to work more efficiently - Some type of gene therapies add genes into the cancer cells so that they are more sensitive to specific treatments such as chemotherapy or with radiotherapy.

Pro drug gene therapy - Some kinds of gene therapies add genes into the cancer cells that enables the cells to transform the drugs from an inactive state to an active state. The inactive state of the drug is termed as a pro drug.

Blocking various processes that safeguard cancer cells - Some type of gene therapies block various processes that cancer cells utilize for survival. For instance, if the DNA is damaged beyond repair most of the body cells are programmed to death (apoptosis), but cancerous cells block this process. Some gene therapies target to reverse this blockage.

Using altered viruses - Some of the viruses infect and kill cells. Scientists are engaged in finding ways to alter these viruses so that they target and kill cancerous cells, leaving healthy cells. This type of therapy utilizes viruses to kill cancer cells directly and not by means of gene delivery. Although this technique is not a gene therapy in the true sense, researchers sometimes refer to it in that way.