Researchers studying to combat cancer have discovered a path-breaking new cancer treatment that trains the body to kill the disease itself.
In fact, the trials of this revolutionary T-cells immunotherapy has shown outstanding results with more than half of those suffering from blood cancers being declared disease-free, say researchers.
Being called as the living drug, it will be similar to a vaccine and would alert the body incase of a cancer relapse. T-cells immunotherapy was in the news last year when British baby Layla Richards underwent treatment made from her body's own cells.
If successful the treatment could reduce the reliance of chemotherapy and could also help the patients get rid of its devastating side effects.
What the trials show
In the US trial, white blood cells or T-cells of patients suffering acute lymphoblastic leukemia were taken and modified genetically to target cancer after which they were injected back into the body. The specialists were amazed at the results. T-cells are nothing but white blood cells that normally fight off viruses and bacteria
Trial chief Professor Stanley Riddell, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, Washington, said, “This is extraordinary. It is unprecedented in medicine to be honest to get response rates in this range in these very advanced patients. These are in patients that have failed everything. Most would be projected to have two to five months to live. This is potentially paradigm-shifting in terms of how we treat them. I think immunotherapy has finally made it to a pillar of cancer therapy.”
Scientists on the verge of finding a cure for cancer
The reason for this breakthrough could be the fact that cancer is not recognized by the body’s natural defence systems, which is why T-cells are assigned the task of fighting it. The genetically modified T-cells showed better results than the normal ones. The breakthrough was announced at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Washington DC, reports mirror.co.uk.
The scientists also informed that another major Italian study has showed that memory T-cells can stay in the body for 14 years, which means that they could be trained to fight cancer and would be useful for fighting the disease in case there is a relapse. The findings could also make way for a vaccine against cancer, which would be a permanent cure for the disease.
Also Read: Fibre-rich diet in teenage could prevent breast cancer risk later
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