Interesting article.

[eire]

independent.ie/irish-news/l....

Worth a read so much being done to find a cure we just don't know what's around the corner. Hope you find it interesting.

[eire]

Sorry I copied and pasted but the article isn't opening. Basically a one year old girl who was dying of leukaemia had ground breaking treatment using designer DNA. They used genetic editing techniques which created designer immune cells to fight cancer. This is being studied at University College London and works by tweaking DNA of donor immune cells so they only target leukaemia cells and not be rejected by the body. They had to get special permission to treat this little girl and so far it looks very hopeful for her. It's just something else in the pipeline and its always good to know that they're trying very hard to find really good treatments.

Pat

[dd21 in reply to eire]

Hi Eire

The cut and paste on my Mac seemed to work for me on the original post. I'm a bit confused with the dates (first published November 2015?)

It is a fantastic story to follow. Our thoughts and prayers for baby Layla and the fabulous doctors at GOSH and UCL.

David

[dd21 in reply to dd21]

I found a similar article, from the same journalist dated 5/11/16 in the Telgraph. An additional quote copied below. dd

"Waseem Qasim, professor of cell and gene therapy ad UCL and consultant immunologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital said: "This is a landmark in the use of new gene engineering technology and the effects for this child have been staggering.

"If replicated it could represent a huge step forward I treating leukaemia and other cancers.

"It means there a whole bunch of other conditions that we can now try and create gene editing approaches for, where we are fixing genes in situ."

Dr Matt Kaiser, Head of Research at cancer research charity Bloodwise said the was a desperate need for new therapies for patients who could not be cured of blood cancers."

[eire in reply to dd21]

Yes dd21 I had this saved and totally forgot about it. When I found it I thought I'd share.

[dd21 in reply to eire]

Eire

And a great share it is too. The progress is mind blowing.

dd

[eire in reply to dd21]

Wonder if any drug came from it? We need all the hope/help there is!!!!!

[dd21]

sorry guys, the Telepgraph article was of course 2015, dd

[dd21]

I think it's a technical solution they trialed. "Chopping" up bits of donor gene and reseeding the patient. Could be tricky ground. We might also have an amazing breaththrough for many blood cancer patients looming. They seem to be an incredibly brave family.

[Jennifer1974]

Gene editing! Using CRISPR technology. In 2014 at John Hopkins researchers were able excise the JAK2+ mutation using CRISPR ( some kind of immune defense system isolated from bacteria that can pinpoint specific location on DNA and remove/replace) from human cells from a patient with PV and replace with corrected sequence. It was done in a test tube but ground breaking nonetheless.

[eire]

It sounds very hopeful doesn't it? I have MF but my drugs are no longer working and there is nothing else available at the moment. I've been trolling the internet to see if any more drugs are in the pipeline. My spleen is very big at this stage just hoping my hosp comes up with something soon it's just so uncomfortable and I'm permanently exhausted!!!!!

[Jennifer1974 in reply to eire]

Hoping they figure something out for you!! Would you consider experimental treatment?

[eire in reply to Jennifer1974]

That's a tough question!!!! Yes I probably would as I know if my spleen gets much bigger I'm in big trouble if I'm not already. My haem is making enquiries into Promedior - the waiting is difficult. My family are coming over to stay for my daughter's grad so will have to do an Oscar winning performance!!!!!

[Jennifer1974 in reply to eire]

They have a trial for Promedior near me at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor..and a few other locations in US.

[eire in reply to Jennifer1974]

You're very good Jennifer I live in Ireland but I believe they may have trials in London for Promedior my haem did say she would make enquiries. Seemingly as you probably know it's very hard to get on a trial as they close very quickly. She mentioned that she would ask on compassionate grounds - my fingers and toes are all crossed. Sods law but since my last hosp visit I've actually felt quite well but I have a feeling that may not mean too much in terms of MF. What an illness it follows it's own rules that's for sure. If I hear anything I'll let you know. Thanks again.

[Jennifer1974]

Wishing you the very best of luck!!!