Cancer is a disease caused by mutations in the DNA and is the second leading cause of death in the United States. There are a variety of different treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery that are currently being used to eradicate this disease. The current treatments have many societal issues that are associated with the process of detection, treatment, and overall mortality rate between countries. The socioeconomic status, lifestyle choices, early detection, and overall prognosis has altered the success rate of treatment on the mortality rate of cancer. There are significant limitations to the current cancer treatments including diagnosis, specificity in targeting only tumorous cells, and the side effects of chemotherapy. Thus, novel treatments such as cannabis and CRISPR/Cas are being researched. The main component in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is analogous in structure to an endogenous cannabinoid that produces effects on brain functions such as memory, pleasure, sensory perception, and thinking. THC binds to the receptors for endogenous cannabinoids to decrease neuropathic pain, increase appetite, and decrease nausea and vomiting. CRISPR/Cas is a genome editing technique that is able to make precise gene edits. In terms of cancer, human trials have been initiated in which T-cells are engineered to better target cancer cells. Early research with these two novel treatments have proven to be effective against cancer and its side effects.
Authors: Vayda Barker, Olivia Bushong, Meaghan Devany, Amanda Egbert, Rosie Magro, Abby Sferrella
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Kennedy, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
You must be logged in to post a comment.