Cancer is a complex disease that can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic mutations. Targeted cancer drugs often work by targeting specific genes that are causing cells to grow rapidly. These drugs act like tranquilizer darts, stopping the overactive genes in their tracks. However, not all tumors have hyperactive genes causing their growth. Instead, some tumors lack the genes responsible for regulating cell growth and destruction.
In these cases, the genes that are supposed to provide guidance and control to other genes are broken or missing. This lack of regulation allows the tumor cells to grow uncontrollably, similar to the chaos caused by the Cat in the Hat in the popular children’s book. Researchers have struggled for years to find ways to fix or restore these broken or missing genes. Unlike genes that are overactive and can be targeted by drugs, tumor-suppressor genes are much more complex to repair. This presents a significant challenge in the fight against cancer, as these genes are more likely to be the root cause of the disease than single overactive genes. Therefore, finding ways to address tumor-suppressor genes is crucial in developing effective cancer treatments for the future.
