Medicine is consistently moving forward. Two types of treatments that have made waves in the medical world in recent years are cell and gene therapies. What exactly are these, though, and how are they different from one another? At BioXcellerator, we are experts in all things cell therapies. Keep reading to learn the difference between cell and gene therapies, including their benefits and which may work best for you and your condition.
What is Gene Therapy?
Let’s start with gene therapy and, more specifically, genes themselves. Genes are units of inheritance that determine who you are, from your eye color to your height. That is thanks to the DNA contained within the genes, which is what is in control of everything. Sometimes, a person’s genes do not function as they should, which can then cause certain diseases.
Gene therapy refers to the medical process of replacing or fixing a single gene within the body, replacing it with another gene that will hopefully rid the body of the disease. Here are some of the conditions gene therapies can treat, including genetic disorders:
- Leukemia
- Immunodeficiency
- Cancers
- Blood Vessel Diseases
- Hemophilia
At this point in time, the FDA has only approved gene therapy for a select number of diseases. However, that doesn’t mean gene therapy can’t treat more than that – there just needs to be more research and studies performed to ensure the absolute safety and efficacy of the treatments.
What is Cell Therapy?
Cell therapy is a lot like it sounds – a type of therapy that involves using cells. Usually, this means transferring new cells into the body. Sometimes, these cells get modified in a lab before being administered into the body for a specific purpose, such as removing diseased cells and treating a disorder. Cell therapies can be highly effective for a range of conditions thanks to the cell’s ability to modulate to the patient’s cells. Stem cells, in particular are particularly useful, as these can self-renew as well as repair damaged tissues. Here are some of the conditions cell therapy can treat:
- Cancers
- Blood Disorders
- Autoimmune Conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Heart Failure
- Neurological Conditions
Read Next: What Are Stem Cells?
What’s the Difference Between Cell and Gene Therapies?
The main difference between cell and gene therapies is that gene therapies work on a genetic level. In contrast, cell therapies work with cells, often extracting them from the body and modifying them to be re-administered later. When comparing the two, it is worth mentioning the size and scale – cells contain multiple genes and are, therefore, a lot bigger; gene therapy works on a much smaller scale.
Another main difference is the type of conditions they both treat. Gene therapy has the most success with treating immune deficiencies, fat metabolism disorders, blood conditions, and hereditary blindness. Cell therapy can treat certain cancer tumors, Hodgin Disease, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Of course, there are also some crossovers, such as cell and gene therapy being an FDA-approved leukemia treatment.
It’s worth noting that cell and gene therapies also have a lot of similarities. After all, all types of cells contain human genes, so medical professionals are always working within the same area with both therapies. The idea of modifying genes and cells to fight diseases is similar.
Can Cell and Gene Therapies Work Together?
Yes! Some treatments involve using both cell and gene therapies. In this case, a medical professional may extract cells from the patient’s body and then isolate genes within those same cells with the goal of modifying them to fight disease. This is quite common and allows the patient to benefit from both types of treatments, which may boost the outcome.
Which One is Right for You?
It’s difficult to say whether cell or gene therapy is best for you. It depends on a range of factors, including your current health, medical history, goals with the treatment, and the type of disorder you’re looking to treat. For example, if you are suffering from joint pain and stiffness due to osteoarthritis, stem cell therapy would likely be a better option for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking to treat hereditary blindness, gene therapy is undoubtedly the most suitable therapy. Speak to a medical professional if you’re not sure which one is your best route, as they will point you in the best direction.
Stem Cell Therapy at BioXcellerator
At BioXcellerator, we focus on stem cell treatments. We have assisted thousands of patients over the years, using the most potent mesenchymal stem cells to heal damaged tissues and reduce inflammation in many areas of the body. This has resulted in multiple successful outcomes, with many of our patients leading a higher quality of life thanks to our treatments. If you are interested in stem cell therapy to treat a condition, contact our team to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. There, you can learn more about whether stem cell therapy is viable for you and the stem cell therapy cost.
Read Next: What Are Stem Cell Injections?
In Summary
When answering, “What’s the difference between cell and gene therapies?”, it’s all about the type of treatment they refer to. While gene therapy aims to treat diseases with the transferal of genetics, cell therapy administers new healthy cells into the body. These advanced therapies are highly effective at treating a wide range of diseases, and hopefully, that will only continue. Plenty of open studies are currently looking into the efficacy of stem and gene therapies when treating various disorders. The more information researchers can gather, the more likely more types of gene and cell therapies become available to the public.
Don’t forget to contact our team if you have a condition and you’re interested in stem cell therapy. We have many years of experience in the stem cell field, which is what makes us global leaders in the industry. We have plenty of locations we cover, so hopefully, we have a stem cell clinic that accommodates you.
