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Researchers revolutionize the treatment of leukemia
A new form of treatment seems to be a revolutionary method in the fight against leukemia. Researchers have now managed to remorse two babies for more than a year through a new treatment modality. They used genetically modified immune cells from a healthy donor and injected them into the body of the diseased baby.
Researchers from the internationally recognized Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found in an investigation that modified immune cells from healthy donors can help leukemic babies recover from their condition. The doctors published a press release on their current work.
The treatment of leukemia could be taken a big step forward by a new method. Treatment with modified immune cells led to interesting results. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com) Other treatments failed with the two diseased babies
The two British children with leukemia were 11 and 16 months old when the examinations were conducted in 2015. The babies had undergone various other cancer treatments (such as standard chemotherapy). These had not struck, however, say the experts.
medically modified cells of healthy donors and injected them
The new study is based on the uptake of immune cells from a healthy donor, also known as T cells. These cells have been modified and then inserted into the patient's body, explain the researchers. T cells are white blood cells in the immune system that attack abnormal cells as in various cancers and prevent their further spread. Such a type of treatment is called UCART19, the doctors add.
Treatment is universally applicable
The current investigation could eventually lead to an extraordinary treatment for cancer, say the authors. The modified cells of a healthy host are universally applicable. They can be used at any time for treatment of all sick patients. The researchers are now planning to further review the groundbreaking approach to curing cancer in multiple children and adults.
Sick babies are well at home
The two young British patients are now at home and seem to be healthy. Nevertheless, the results must be treated with some caution. It is not yet known if this type of treatment works for a larger number of patients, the scientists explain.
Alternative to UCART19 treatment
Another interesting method for combating cancer is called T-cell cancer therapy. T-cell cancer therapy is conceptually similar to UCART19 treatment. It builds on fighting the spread of cancer cells in the body, through an injection of genetically-enriched T cells. The difference with this method is that the patient's own T cells are used for the treatment. These are removed and changed in the laboratory.
T-cell cancer therapy also leads to success in the treatment of leukemia
While the two infants were the only two recipients of UCART19 treatment, the study of so-called T cell therapy examined 35 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The physicians found that 94 percent of those treated went into remission. The same study also found that 50 percent of the 40 lymphoma patients also went into remission.
UCART19 treatment can be performed immediately without waiting
The so-called UCART19 treatment has the advantage that patients can be treated immediately. It is not necessary to take cells from the patient and then wait for them to be changed in the laboratory. The treatment by UCART19 also seems to be much cheaper.
There are more and more people suffering from cancer
In America alone, there are approximately 14.5 million people who have cancer. It is expected that this figure will increase to more than 19 million patients by 2024. About 39.6 percent of Americans will contract cancer at some point in their lives, the scientists emphasize. (As)