US scientists claim to have successfully wiped out an aggressive form of childhood leukaemia in a young girl using her own modified T cells to fight the cancer. The treatment reprogrammed her immune cells to rapidly multiply and destroy leukaemia cells, researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania reported in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The 7-year-old Emily Whitehead, is reported to be healthy and cancer-free, 11 months after receiving bio-engineered T cells.
The other patient, a 10-year-old girl, who also had a complete response to the same treatment, however, suffered a relapse two months later when other leukaemia cells appeared that did not harbour the specific cell receptor targeted by the therapy.
‘This study describes how these cells have a potent anticancer effect in children,’ said co-author Stephan Grupp.
The 7-year-old Emily Whitehead, is reported to be healthy and cancer-free, 11 months after receiving bio-engineered T cells.
The other patient, a 10-year-old girl, who also had a complete response to the same treatment, however, suffered a relapse two months later when other leukaemia cells appeared that did not harbour the specific cell receptor targeted by the therapy.
‘This study describes how these cells have a potent anticancer effect in children,’ said co-author Stephan Grupp.