New Cancer Treatment Gives Patients Hope
Cancer has touched thousands of lives; its effects are far-reaching and devastating. For years, medical researchers have been trying to find a way to cure cancer. The fight continues and with time, new strategies emerge.
A new study offers hope.
Scientists have found a way to target cancer cells by using cells from a patient’s own immune system. In the study, researchers worked with patients suffering from a specific blood cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The only known cure for this type of cancer is through a bone marrow transplant, which is only effective in about half of patients. In the study, scientists worked with three patients, extracting their own white blood cells. They then reprogrammed them to attack the leukemia cells and injected them back into the patient. [1] The results were astonishing: in six months, two of the patients had no cancer cells left. A year later, all three of the patients are doing well after treatment.
This gives hope to individuals suffering from all kinds of cancers. The goal now is to continue developing this method of treatment. Putting white blood cells to work with the hopes of targeting cancer cells that cause breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer may be part of the key to curing this destructive and devastating disease.
[1] LaPook, Jonathan. “New Cancer Treatment Reprograms Immune System.” CBSNews.com. August 10, 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/10/eveningnews/main20090911.shtml Accessed January 3, 2012.
