Docs at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania are working with genetically modified T-cells to fight leukemia. T-cells are collected and purposely infected with a virus that genetically changes them in hopes that those T-cells...now dubbed "serial killer cells," will now see and react against the cancer cells once they are reintroduced to the patient. HIV that has been modified so that it can no longer cause disease, but remains able to reprogram the T-cells, is the virus used in this clinical trial. The doctors readily admit that this is a last ditch effort, currently utilized only in patients for whom there are no other options, and even with some successes, patients may not survive the procedure. However, you need only see the film below....to hope.
Fire with Fire
Leukemia Patients Remain in Remission More Than Two Years After Receiving Genetically Engineered T Cell Therapy
University of Pennsylvania Researchser Report on Results of Trial in 12 Patients, Including Two Children Penn Medicine News, December 9, 2012
In this report they state: Nine of twelve leukemia patients who received infusions of their own T-cells after the cells had been genetically engineered to attack the patients' tumors responded to the therapy.... Clinical trial participants, all of whom had advanced cancers, included 10 adults...with chronic lymphocytic leukemia...and two children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The report goes on to state that: 2 of the first 3[adults] treated remain healthy and in full remissions more than two years after their treatment. Information regarding the other patients was not included in this particular report.
Good luck, Emma. Live free. - c
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