A groundbreaking cancer treatment, originating in Israel, has exhibited such impressive efficacy against an otherwise incurable form of cancer that the hospital offering it faces a waiting list exceeding six months. Specialists at the immunology department of Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem employed the innovative Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy (CAR-T) to achieve remission in 90% of the 74 participants grappling with multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer affecting various regions such as the pelvis, ribs, skull, and spine.
Multiple myeloma constitutes a significant proportion of blood cancers, accounting for approximately one-tenth of such cases. CAR-T cell therapy represents a transformative approach to cancer treatment, capitalizing on the patient's immune system to target and eliminate cancerous tumors.
Professor Polina Stepensky, who leads the department at Hadassah, underscores the dramatic results showing evidence of a very positive overall response rate with minimal side effects (which are only mild).
As reported by the Jerusalem Post, this treatment will soon be accessible in the United States. The therapy involves a meticulous process: donated blood is separated into red and white blood cells, and then, employing genetic engineering, white blood cells—particularly immune agents called T cells—are trained to target cancerous tumors by harnessing a deactivated virus loaded with vital instructional signals.
A patent license has been acquired and clinical trials are about to begin in the States. The plan involves attaining commercialisation and FDA approval within a year.
Beyond its accomplishments against multiple myeloma, CAR-T cell therapy displays promise in combating leukemia and even non-cancerous conditions like lupus—an autoimmune disorder.
The breakthrough achieved through the experimental cancer treatment signifies a decisive step forward in the battle against an otherwise insurmountable form of disease. The transformation of medical paradigms, from elusive immune responses to effective cancer targeting, demonstrates the remarkable potential of scientific advancements to transcend longstanding limitations.
Source: Siegel-Itzkovitch, Judy. "Groundbreaking Israeli cancer treatment has 90% success rate". Jerusalem Post, 29 May, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-744499 [Date accessed: 31 May, 2023]
Comments