First Washington patient to try new T-cell therapy is cancer free

[OneGrassRoot]

(x-post from GOOD NEWS)

SEATTLE -- Seattle Children's Hospital made a landmark announcement Wednesday -- the first leukemia patient in the state to try a new cancer therapy is disease free.

The treatment, called cellular immunotherapy, is designed for the toughest cases of leukemia. At 23 years old, Lynsie Conradi is fighting leukemia for the third time. Cancer and chemotherapy have taken their toll.

<snip>

Researchers asked her to try a new therapy. They took Lynsie's blood and focused on the cells that fight infection: the T-cells.

In the lab, they added a man-made gene, then returned those souped-up T-cells to Lynsie's body. "That new gene enables the T cells to recognize the cancer as foreign and bad and then triggers the T-cell to kill the leukemia cell," said Dr. Rebecca Gardner, the lead researcher on the Seattle Children's study.


http://www.komonews.com/news/health/First-leukemia-patient-in-the-state-to-try-new-cancer-therapy-is-disease-free-214985401.html?tab=video&c=y

[Wounded Bear]

1. Saw this linked elsewhere....

this is great news, both for the young lady, who I hope is truly cancer free, and for future patients.

[AllyCat]

2. Wow. This is fantastic. Hope it gets more scientific focus and is

able to help people on a grander scale.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. kick n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

4. That is wonderful!

[Silver Gaia]

5. Awesome news!

[SidDithers]

6. But I thought genetic modification was evil?...

Good news indeed. Thanks for posting.

Edit: thread of mine from last month with a bit more detail behind how the treatment works (if it's the same treatment).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023058761

Sid

[BrotherIvan]

7. At least it's working with the most powerful weapon in the arsenal: the immune system

All our current treatments absolutely annihilate the immune system, the most powerful cancer killer there is. I was just speaking with a friend saying I know six people diagnosed with terminal cancer and only one died from the disease. The other five died from the treatment or complications of the treatment. The fact that we are still following the same slash, burn, poison model in the treatment of cancer for the last 90 years is despicable. Science hasn't advanced? Follow the money...

Great news.