A new cancer treatment using modified immune cells has helped someone stay cancer-free for 18 years.
Doctors use this treatment for blood cancer by modifying immune cells to fight cancer cells.
While this treatment is usually less effective for solid tumors like neuroblastoma, a patient treated in 2005 remains cancer-free after 18 years.
Researchers are surprised by these exceptional results and are now trying to improve the treatment for more success.
Understanding why some patients respond better than others is still uncertain, but genetic differences and tumor characteristics may play a role.
Future advancements in cell engineering may lead to more successful treatments for cancer patients.
Vocabulary List:
- Neuroblastoma /ˌnjʊəroʊblæˈstoʊmə/ (noun): A type of cancer that develops from immature nerve cells often found in children.
- Modified /ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪd/ (adjective): Changed in form or character often to improve or make more suitable.
- Exceptional /ɪkˈsɛpʃənl/ (adjective): Unusual or not typical; extraordinary.
- Advancements /ədˈvɑːnsmənts/ (noun): Progress or improvements in a particular area such as technology or science.
- Characteristics /ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪks/ (noun): Features or qualities that make something distinct or recognizable.
- Response /rɪˈspɒns/ (noun): An answer or reaction to something particularly in medical or scientific contexts.
How much do you know?
What type of cancer has the new cancer treatment using modified immune cells been successful in treating?
Why is the modified immune cell treatment usually less effective for solid tumors like neuroblastoma?
What are researchers trying to do in response to the exceptional results of the cancer treatment?
What role may genetic differences and tumor characteristics play in the response to the treatment?
What is expected to result from future advancements in cell engineering?
Why are doctors modifying immune cells in the new cancer treatment?
The modified immune cell treatment has been successful in treating solid tumors like neuroblastoma.
Researchers have a complete understanding of why some patients respond better than others to the cancer treatment.
Genetic differences and tumor characteristics may not impact the response to the cancer treatment.
Doctors are not surprised by the exceptional results of the cancer treatment.
Future advancements in cell engineering are not expected to lead to more successful treatments for cancer patients.
The patient treated in 2005 for neuroblastoma did not remain cancer-free after 18 years.
The patient treated in 2005 remains cancer-free after years.
Doctors use the new cancer treatment for blood cancer by modifying immune cells to fight cancer cells - this type of treatment is usually less effective for solid tumors like .
Understanding why some patients respond better than others to the cancer treatment is still .
Researchers are now trying to improve the cancer treatment for more .
Future advancements in cell engineering may lead to more successful treatments for cancer .
Genetic differences and tumor characteristics may play a role in the response to the cancer treatment, with genetic differences and tumor characteristics having a impact.
