From BBC Health - June 09, 2006 23:15
Gene therapy could be used to protect healthy cells from the damaging effects of cancer treatment.
Gene therapy could be used to shield healthy bone marrow stem cells from the effects of radiotherapy treatment for cancer, research suggests.
Radiotherapy is used to kill off cancer cells, but can also damage bone marrow cells that produce blood cells vital for life.
Protecting these cells should allow stronger radiotherapy doses to be administered safely.
The Manchester University study appears in the Journal of Gene Medicine.