The past twenty years have host to some of the biggest advances in biomedical sciences. However there are few that are more significant and important of these three advances; the development of gene therapy and its first successful use worldwide clinically, the use of monoclonal antibodies in order to treat cancer, and the sequencing of the human genome. There is also a problem in the world at the moment with antibiotic resistance in harmful bacteria and the challenge has been set to find new antibiotics in order to combat these bacteria. In the next decade, significant steps will be made towards this advance.
Gene therapy is a relatively simple concept. A faulty or defective gene which does not function properly is replaced by a fully working
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The first step is to stimulate an immune response in order to generate antibody producing b-cells. A mouse is immunized and the specific antibodies are identified to be being made in the mouse. The spleen is then removed and dissociated in culture medium in order to release the b-cells. The medium also includes a special line of myeloma cells from a mouse. When polyethylene glycol is added some of the two types of cells fuse and these fused cells that are called hybridomas are then separated from the unfused cells. The remaining hybridomas are then separated and cultured individually. The hybridomas are then screened for the specific antibodies that are wanted. The clones that produce the antibodies required are grown and frozen for storage. Monoclonal antibodies have been considered one of the best methods of treatment of haematological malignancies and also solid tumours in the last two decades. Whilst full immunology has not been achieved as of yet, the development of monoclonal antibodies has pushed this prospect several steps closer. In the past there have been 12 different antibodies that have been approved by the FDA, for the treatment of several solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Monoclonal antibody treatment of cancer patients has improved massively in the last 20 years as recent evidence has shown, as patients with colorectal cancer that had wild type KRas tumours that were treated with anti EFGR antibodies had better responses, disease control and survival. The use of monoclonal antibodies In order to treat cancer is a he scientific advance in the past20 years as it gives a new way to combat this disease. It also makes the prospect of full immunity seem more probable. It will continue to grow and will become a better and stronger way to treat cancer and other diseases as development