A sample was taken from the blood of each of them, from which white blood cells, "T" cells, of the immune system were extracted. These cells underwent a genetic engineering procedure: they were infected with a benign virus, which carried a special gene designed to accelerate the development of antibodies against cancer.
Two American patients with melanoma skin cancer in a very advanced state, who were actually on the verge of death, were successfully treated using an innovative method called "gene therapy" - which eliminated the cancer. "This method is still experimental, but paves the way for future treatment in other types of cancer as well," the researchers said.
The report on the amazing medical success was published for the first time this weekend in the scientific journal "Science". One of the two patients whose life was saved was revealed by his full name: Mark Origer, 53, a postman by trade. The other is only identified as "Thomas M", 39 years old.
In 1999 Origer was diagnosed with skin cancer in its most violent version. Malignant cells appeared on his back and spread, until in 2004 they reached the liver. Surgery and chemotherapy did not stop the spread of the disease. In "Thomas M" the cancer spread to the liver, the lymphatic system and the lungs.
At this stage it was suggested that they both undergo an experiment with the new "genetic therapy" method. A sample was taken from the blood of each of them, from which white blood cells, "T" cells, of the immune system were extracted. These cells underwent a genetic engineering procedure: they were infected with a benign virus, which carried a special gene designed to accelerate the development of antibodies against cancer.
This virus, combined with the special gene, is designed to speed up the poor immune system of the patients, go on a hunting trip for cancer cells, fight them and metastases - and destroy them. The engineered cells (whose number was doubled in the laboratory) were injected back into the patients' bodies. Later, these improved white blood cells successfully performed their assigned role - successfully attacked the cancer cells and destroyed them.
19 months since this treatment began, it has now been announced that both patients have successfully undergone it. However, the researchers admitted, 15 other people received the same treatment, but the results were different: 12 died during it, and three are still critically ill. This fact proves that this experimental method of treatment is not yet suitable for everyone.
Next target: breast and lung cancer
One of the leaders of the research team, Prof. Steven Rosenberg from the National Cancer Institute of the United States, has been working for 30 years on finding ways to manipulate the immune system of cancer patients to fight the malignant tumors. He stated that he discovered a group of receptors that are at least 100 times more effective in the operation of the immune system to fight cancer. Now he is engaged in inducing cells of the immune system to fight breast, lung and liver cancer.
Rosenberg also said that although a breakthrough success has been recorded, it is still too early to develop "excessive optimism", because the method is still not perfect and will require a lot of refinement and further research. "It will take at least five more years of close monitoring of the two patients so that we can say 100 percent that they are completely cured," he emphasized, "sometimes the cancer returns."
In the past, it has been announced more than once that the "genetic therapy" method is the greatest hope for the treatment and even complete cure of cancer patients. However, since the end of the 80s of the last century, due to a series of disappointments, there has been a decline in the use of this idea. Scientists now say, including some who were not at all on the research team, that the current achievement is very important and a "milestone" in a path that may be effective, when perfected.
Melanoma cancer occurs in four percent of all cancer patients. This is a very violent type of the disease, which spreads very quickly. In the United States, they calculated and found that this year 62 thousand new melanoma patients will be diagnosed in the country, of which 7,910 people will die due to their disease. In Britain this year they discovered that the rate of cancer patients has tripled in the last 30 years
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A genetic security mechanism that protects against cancer has been found
The scientists of the Weizmann Institute of Science discovered a security mechanism that prevents an excessive outbreak of mutations, so that each of them works only when its special properties are really needed, thus ultimately minimizing the rate of mutations
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Two men were completely cured of the deadly skin cancer malignant melanoma with the help of genetically modified versions of their own immune cells.
the treatment
Dr. Stefan Rosenberg and his team of doctors at the National Cancer Institute in the United States isolated immune cells, called 'T cells', from cancer patients. 'T cells' are white blood cells capable of recognizing and attacking foreign invaders.
The scientists then used a virus to carry receptor genes into 'T cells'. These genes allowed the 'T cells' to create receptors. In return, these receptors recognized specific types of cancer - in this case, malignant melanoma.
The modified 'T cells' were transferred to patients, where they attacked the cancer cells.
First time in history
Dr. Rosenberg and his team are the first to show that genetically engineered 'T cells' can exist in the body and shrink large tumors in humans.
Despite this, it should be noted that many scientists use gene therapy to treat various diseases, including cancer. Scientists at the University of Manchester are also investigating genetically modified 'T cell' therapy.
This method is one of many, and the proposed options of gene therapy are multiplying all the time.
In general, gene therapy is a way of treating diseases either by replacing damaged or abnormal genes with normal genes, or by new genetic instructions that help fight the disease.
Scientists are already engaged in repairing damaged genes responsible for various conditions by "smuggling" working copies into the cells in the hope that these will replace the damaged original cells.
Again, they do this by using a virus that carries the DNA replacement into the cells. The use of the treatment has so far been successful.
The safety of the treatments
Authorities in the United States discovered that hundreds of experiments had failed and resulted in several deaths.
French authorities have suspended trials of gene therapy following a child who developed leukemia after undergoing this type of treatment.
What is the future?
Doctors and scientists working in the field are sure that gene therapy will be the key to curing a wide range of serious diseases. However, they admit that many studies are still required before the method can be used on a large scale.n
