March 5, 2020
Cutting-edge cancer treatment shows promise in early trials.
There’s no doubt about how incredible our body’s immune system is in attacking invading bacteria and viruses and restoring us to health following an illness. Even so, the cutting-edge cancer treatment discovery from researchers at Cardiff University are positioned to bring an innovative and unanticipated development: halting cancer in its tracks.
Medical researchers uncovered a specific kind of immune cell, a T-cell, situated in our blood, which can scan and wipe out threats – including an array of cancer cells: kidney, prostate, colon, lung, breast, ovarian, cervical, blood, and many others. And astonishingly, all normal tissue is left unaltered.
The newly discovered T-cell works with a particular molecule located on the surface of each cell inside our body, known as the MR1 molecule. The hypothesis is that the MR1 is alerting the T-cell of any cancer cell distortions. Garry Dolton, who was a part of the research team, explains, “We are the first to describe a T-cell that finds MR1 in cancer cells – that hasn’t been done before; this is the first of its kind.”
While there is currently a similar type of treatment, called CAR-T, that has shown significant results in bringing patients from a terminal status to complete remission, it has only been shown to be successful in specific types of cancer, and not “solid cancers” (those that form tumors). This new breakthrough has demonstrated so far to affect all types of cancer. Here’s how it is projected to work:
- Blood is obtained from a patient diagnosed with cancer.
- The blood is filtered to take out T-cells.
- A particular variety of benign virus is injected into the T-cells, allowing them to pick up on cancer cells.
- These cells are then copied in a lab, and inserted back into the individual.
Studies have been remarkably successful in animal trials, and with additional safety checks, the next step is going to be human trials. According to Daniel Davis, professor of immunology at the University of Manchester, “There is no question that it’s a very exciting discovery, both for advancing our basic knowledge about the immune system and for the possibility of future new medicines.”
While we keep an eye out for additional info on this particular advancement, you can rely on Continuum when it comes to the finest quality care for those diagnosed with cancer and other chronic conditions. Just a few of the various ways we can help out include:
- Meal planning and preparation, specific to any dietary constraints or difficulties
- Pleasant companionship
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Running errands, such as picking up medications and grocery shopping
- Transportation to medical appointments/procedures and fun outings
- And a whole lot more
Take the initial step to a better quality of life for someone you love. Contact Continuum, providers of top-rated in-home care in St. Louis and the surrounding communities, at (314) 863-9912 and request an in-home meeting.