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Teen's Cancer Vanquished by Gene-Edited Immune Cells
9 Dec
Summary
- Gene-edited immune cells, BE-CAR7, have cleared aggressive leukaemia in many patients.
- A 16-year-old, previously facing palliative care, is now disease-free after treatment.
- This therapy offers new hope for the 20% of patients resistant to standard treatments.
A pioneering treatment called BE-CAR7 is transforming outcomes for patients with aggressive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). Developed by scientists at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, this therapy involves editing healthy donor immune cells to recognize and eliminate cancer cells.
The groundbreaking approach has demonstrated significant success, with nearly two-thirds of participants in a recent clinical trial achieving disease-free status. Among those treated is a 16-year-old who, after being deemed a candidate for palliative care, has now been discharged and dreams of becoming a research scientist herself.
This innovative therapy offers a vital new option for the approximately 20% of patients with T-ALL who do not respond to standard treatments. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest a promising future for combating this rare but aggressive form of blood cancer.
