Video games lead to new paths to treat cancer, other diseases

The cure for cancer comes down to this: video games.

In a research lab at Wake Forest University, biophysicist and computer scientist Samuel Cho uses graphics processing units (GPUs), the technology that makes videogame images so realistic, to simulate the inner workings of human cells.

"If it wasn't for gamers who kept buying these GPUs, the prices wouldn't have dropped, and we couldn't have used them for science," Cho says.

Now he can see exactly how the cells live, divide and die.

And that, Cho says, opens up possibilities for new targets for tumor-killing drugs.

Cho's most recent computer simulation, of a critical RNA molecule that is a component of the human telomerase enzyme, for the first time shows hidden states in the folding and unfolding of this molecule, giving scientists a far more accurate view of how it functions. The results of his research appear in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Cho worked with colleagues from the University of Maryland and Zhejiang University in China for this study.

Fighting cancer with video games HopeLab is a non-profit organization that combines rigorous research with innovative solutions to improve the health and quality of life of young people with chronic illness. What does it mean? They’ve created a PC-based video game, Re-Mission which is a 3D shooter with 20 levels that takes the player on a journey through the bodies of young patients with different kinds of cancer. Players control a nanobot named Roxxi who destroys cancer cells, battles bacterial infections, and manages realistic, life- threatening side effects associated with the disease. Why?

They’re trying to help young cancer patients to fight their disease, but in an unusual way. If you’re playing, it’s much easier to learn and to improve your capabilities. With a video game, you can convince a child that he/she is able to win this battle. That’s why the aims of Hopelab are:

adherence to cancer medications
knowledge about cancer information embedded within the game
quality of life
self-efficacy: defined as the belief in the ability to take a certain course of action in a challenging situation

And the results are incredible:

the overall self-efficacy score of the patients increased significantly
Re-Mission players maintained higher blood levels of chemotherapy and showed higher rates of antibiotic utilization

So this innovative method was helpful in 80% of the patients.

The human telomerase enzyme is found only in cancerous cells. It adds tiny molecules called telomeres to the ends of DNA strands when cells divide – essentially preventing cells from dying.