Gene therapy used to trigger cancer cells' self-destruction

RESEARCHERS have harnessed the power of X-ray beams to kick start genes into fighting cancer.

Scientists from the University of Ulster used gene therapy to enhance the effects of radiotherapy and to encourage cancer cells to "commit suicide".

The scientists used a new type of "switch" which was activated by the precise X-ray beam pointed at cancer cells. This ensured that the treatment affected only cancer cells and not normal ones, according to research published in the Journal of Gene Medicine.