Apparently so, seven year
old Emily was expected to die from an aggressive pediatric form of
Leukemia last spring, but thanks to a new experimental treatment she
has survived.
Emily underwent a new
clinical trial that uses a disabled form of HIV to bring
cancer-fighting genes to her T-cells. The idea behind this study is
to reprogram the immune system to attack the cancer cells. The
T-cells in question are first removed from the patient's body. They
are then genetically altered and bioengineered with the disabled HIV
virus. Therefor the patient is never injected with the actual HIV
virus. Why? The cells are treated outside he body with the virus and
then reinjected into the areas where leukemia is growing.
Seven months after the
treatment, Emily's doctor found that she had no evidence of leukemia
cells. He pronounced her healthy and in remission. This innovative
experimental therapy saved her life. Emily became the first child to
undergo the treatments called CTL019.
Before this recent
procedure Emily had relapsed two times. Her family was about to give
up hope since she did not seem to respond to any of the traditional
treatments.
Trial leader and
Pediatric Oncologist Stephan A. Grupp M.D, PH.D of the Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the researchers behind this new
medical discovery.
Sanna Klemetti
s.klemetti@globalaging.org
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