Within the activities of the third scientific forum, Diyala Medicine holds a scientific symposium entitled The use of microRNA in gene therapy for cancer patients

Under the sponsorship of the Dean of the College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Professor Dr. Ismail Ibrahim Latif, the Quality Assurance Division held a scientific symposium entitled (Using microRNA in gene therapy for cancer patients). The symposium was moderated by Assistant Lecturer Lina Ali Hasaballah, specializing in Microbiology.
The symposium aimed to define microRNA in gene therapy for cancer patients, which is a type of small RNA molecules whose length does not exceed 21 nucleotides.
The symposium showed that humans contain approximately 3% of the genes that encode this type of nucleic acid, which has a role in many vital activities (such as metabolism, differentiation) and division, in addition to its importance in treating cancer.
It is considered a factor that helps or suppresses cancer, and this is what has been worked on in recent years to benefit from it in the genetic treatment of this disease. One of the types of microRNA used is miR34b/c, which is used in the treatment of breast cancer when applied to cancer cell lines.
In conclusion, it was shown that there is a significant decline in the growth of cancer cells treated with this type of nucleic acids compared to untreated cells. This type of treatment is distinguished because it is non-toxic and targets cancer cells only and has no side effects compared to traditional treatments used such as chemotherapy and radiation.