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porchrat
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2008
- Messages
- 34,277
There has been quite a lot of hype in the news recently about this one published last week in NEJM.
The simplest way I can think of to summarise this study is that gene therapy was used to create super persistent and rapidly reproducing T-lymphocytes that are programmed to target B-lymphocytes. In Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia (CLL) the B-lymphocytes are the ones that are cancerous. So basically these researchers created T-lymphocytes that kill B-lymphocytes.
These modified lymphocytes were then introduced into the participants.
The results were pretty interesting. Obviously with a sample size of only 3 this is just a preliminary study to demonstrate that the treatment doesn't kill those given it and to see what other sorts of effects could be seen. Basically they're all in remission with one patient having been remission for 11 months.
The problem is that while these modified lymphocytes proceeded to smack the carp out of the cancerous B lymphocytes they also unfortunately smacked the carp out of all the normal B-lymphocytes as well. These patients now have no cancer but also no B-lymphocytes. Fear not though while these lymphocytes are persistent the effect of gene therapy do wear off over time and these T-lymphocytes while they have persisted for months after the initial infusions should eventually disappear perhaps even allowing B-lymphocytes free of cancer to be reintroduced at some stage.
While hardly perfect it is still extremely interesting and a good demonstration of the future of gene therapy in the medical world.
LET THERE BE LINKS!!!!
The study itself for those so inclined
An article from NPR that expresses some of the more important parts.
The simplest way I can think of to summarise this study is that gene therapy was used to create super persistent and rapidly reproducing T-lymphocytes that are programmed to target B-lymphocytes. In Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia (CLL) the B-lymphocytes are the ones that are cancerous. So basically these researchers created T-lymphocytes that kill B-lymphocytes.
These modified lymphocytes were then introduced into the participants.
The results were pretty interesting. Obviously with a sample size of only 3 this is just a preliminary study to demonstrate that the treatment doesn't kill those given it and to see what other sorts of effects could be seen. Basically they're all in remission with one patient having been remission for 11 months.
The problem is that while these modified lymphocytes proceeded to smack the carp out of the cancerous B lymphocytes they also unfortunately smacked the carp out of all the normal B-lymphocytes as well. These patients now have no cancer but also no B-lymphocytes. Fear not though while these lymphocytes are persistent the effect of gene therapy do wear off over time and these T-lymphocytes while they have persisted for months after the initial infusions should eventually disappear perhaps even allowing B-lymphocytes free of cancer to be reintroduced at some stage.
While hardly perfect it is still extremely interesting and a good demonstration of the future of gene therapy in the medical world.
LET THERE BE LINKS!!!!
The study itself for those so inclined
An article from NPR that expresses some of the more important parts.
