CBS News. New cancer treatment reprograms immune system - CBS News. 2011. Video. Youtube.comWeb. 13 Apr 2012. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cR6ZCtYo_s>.
This was a news story from CBS News that originally aired on August 10th 2011. It is another example of new ideas turning into new treatments. Dr. Carl June’s team recently succeeded in treating three patients who were diagnosed with incurable Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). One of the only treatments of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a bone marrow transplant that is not only dangerous but only 50% effective.
With the new treatment Dr. Carl’s team was able to take the patient’s own blood, remove some of the T-cells and genetically modify them to attack the CLL cells. With only one infusion the patients had noticeable changes with two patients having their tumors completely absent six months later. This is a remarkable treatment that when developed completely could be used to cure all types of not only cancer but other ailments facing the human population.
Although this study showed great signs of success with all patients surviving, having such a small experimental group makes the data questionable. The efficacy of the treatment needs to be done on a much larger scale before it can be considered ready for mass use, but the fact that these new ideas and treatments are still coming out is promising.
Works Consulted
LaPook, Jonathan. "New cancer treatment reprograms immune system." CBS News. 10 08 2011: n. page. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. < http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/10/eveningnews/main20090911.shtml>.
