Using Engineered T-Cells to fight Leukaemia (Fire With Fire)

[AussieNeil]

Dr Sharman's latest blog highlights a less than 4 minute video showing how Dr Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania used CAR-T technology to successfully cure a child's otherwise incurable leukaemia.

vimeo.com/54668275

CAR-T technology uses a modified HIV virus to activate T-cells to multiply in the body and kill leukaemia cells. It has been used to successfully cure CLL in a couple of patients, but needs considerably more development to make it affordable and widely applicable, as currently it involves using the patient's own T-lymphocytes to overcome rejection. It also leaves CLL patients with no B-lymphocytes, so they need IVIG transfusions thereafter to boost their immunity.

Dr Sharman's blog on the video:

cll-nhl.com/2013/06/enginee...

and on CAR-T-Cell technology:

cll-nhl.com/2012/09/genetic...

Neil