NEWS POST: New Treatment For Leukemia Patients

By -

Bone Marrow

New research published in Friday’s i paper showed the current swathes of progress in the fight against cancer. The article reported on a study that took place at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, which concentrated on cancer patients that had previously undergone chemotherapy to treat cancer but had subsequently relapsed. The cancer patients in question each suffered from a form of cancer that affects white blood cells, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although each patient responded positively to chemotherapy, the cancer soon returned with gusto, boasting a resistance to any further treatments of chemotherapy. 

However, new treatments developed by the Kettering Cancer Centre allowed patients to be injected with a modification of their own cancer fighting gene to fight the disease. The treatment, known as targeted immunotherapy, involves inserting an additional gene into the patient’s white blood cells that allow them to identify the cancerous cells as a foreign intruder and destroy them. Early trials have showed some remarkable success.

Out of the five patients who received this new treatment, four have suffered no relapses or any hint of the cancer returning between five to twenty four months. One patient died from other complications not related to the treatment. 

Although the treatment is not a complete cure for those suffering from leukemia, it does show the continuing developments of helping those who have overcome cancer, and have subsequently gone in to remission after receiving chemotherapy. Currently there is no affordable alternative treatment for cancers after chemotherapy. If a cancer patient is given chemotherapy and they fall into remission with a cancer that is now immune to the treatment, then there are few options available to them. The development of targeted immunotherapy gives these sorts of cancer patient’s hope that they can once again overcome the disease without the need for chemo and with better, long lasting results. 

The fight against cancer is a long suffering and torturous marathon, and although we are still a fair way off discovering an ultimate cure for cancer, the developments in treatment like targeted immunotherapy give patients more options and more hope for survival after remission.   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Moments with Hot Air Balloon Rides

By -
Image
Having recently booked my first hot air balloon ride I have started to notice just how many are featured in my favourite movies. In reflection, this is probably where I got the idea from! Subconsciously developing the romantic idea of soaring above the world. In the spirit of my new plight for air balloon flight (you like what I did there?), here are my top five hot air balloon movie moments: 1. The Ugly Truth Spoiler alert for anyone who has not seen this movie! For everyone else, I thought I would cover this one off early and quickly confess that I, man and ambassador of all that is masculine, did enjoy The Ugly Truth. Okay, so it is effectively a ‘rom com’ but this dude, played by the undeniably commanding Gerard Butler , is my hero. He is convincing as a ladies man who knows it all and calls women on all of their over analytical issues. The moment when they argue in the hot air balloon and he appears to have finally ‘tamed the shrew’ – a very pretty shrew played by the s
Read more

How To Throw the Ultimate Uni House Party

By -
Image
Prepare To Party What makes the ultimate Uni House party one to remember? To be honest, it’s probably the top class shenanigans that carry on into the wee small hours. The ones that make Uni life headlines, are talked about for weeks afterwards and then reminisced about years down the line when you might have forgotten the names, but never the faces. However, the best way to get you and your mates to let your hair down and forget the pile of essays waiting to be written, is to get properly prepared and put a bit of effort into creating a wicked atmosphere. Now, I may be teaching a grandmother to suck eggs here but let’s run through a few pre party essentials.  Love Thy Neighbour Tell the neighbours you are having the party and tell them well in advance. Sounds obvious I know, but the amount of parties I’ve been to  that have had neighbours coming round during the party screaming bloody murder are too many to mention. Be nice to them, take them a cake when you go round, b
Read more

Staycation: Embracing the Sun in the UK

By -
Image
With the awesome weather blessing the UK, it is most definitely calling for a staycation. Often less stressful and cheaper than going abroad, these locations are bursting at the seams with attractions for you to fill your time with! London Source: Bendavisual on Unsplash Why fly yourself to Venice, Italy this Summer, when you could visit Little Venice in London at a fraction of the price? Take a trip in a water taxi which resembles the traditional gondolas in the Italian city. Enjoy waterside cafes, pubs and restaurants during the summer months. Whilst enjoying the air of Italy around London, you can also enjoy the extravagant Georgian architecture and great outside spaces. If you are from out of the UK, you simply cannot leave without a taste of a British delicacy — pie and mash. This classic dish should be enjoyed in the East End for authenticity or in a higher end restaurant for a gastronomic rendition of the delicious dish! Manchester This City is home to some amazi
Read more