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Breakthrough in genetic and cellular therapy in cancer

There is a recent breakthrough in genetic and cell therapy that could lead to a dramatic difference in the management of cancers; A team from University of Pennsylvania have been able to genetically modify the T cells of patients with B cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with a “chimeric antigen receptor” CAR targeting a CD 19 molecule on CLL cells.

How the therapy works:

  • Autologous T cells are immune cells taken from a
    patient’s own blood stream. These cells are then modified to express an
    antibody on their surface that will recognize and bind to a protein called
    CD19. (the genetic engineering bit)
  • This CD19 protein is on most B-cell CLL cells
    and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cells.
  • These modified T cells are then grown (expanded)
    in the laboratory and given back to patients in an attempt to treat their
    leukemia. (the cell therapy bit)
  • When the patient’s own T-cells recognize and
    bind to the CLL cell, they have the ability to become activated and kill the
    leukemia cell.
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This entry was posted on Friday, November 18th, 2011 at 10:13 am and is filed under Cancer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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