In breakthrough research scientists have opened up the potential for cancer patients, which one day will help them to fight their tumours with the help of their own skin. Researchers from Oxford University had transformed patient’s own skin cells into the immune system, which could be used to stimulate a chase for cancer.
However, it was accomplished only in lab study, which meant, any therapy is a long way off. The research focused on dendritic cells which organize a fraction of the immune reaction. By screening identifying markers or antigens, they notify the immune system what to attack.
Whether they exhibit cancer markers then tumourous cells will become the target to attack. Harnessing the power of the immune system is an area of study, being hunted by cancer researchers, such as in the hunt for cancer vaccines. However, researchers believe that it will be possible.
A team led by Dr Paul Fairchild, from the Oxford Stem Cell Institute, trials into dendritic cells, harvested from a patient’s blood, had taken place earlier also, but they fired up only part of the immune system. But now his team used advanced stem cells technology to generate new dendritic cell, using patient’s own skin.
These were primed to stimulate an attack on melanomas with help of a marker, known as Melan A, which is unique to the cancer. The lab trails had shown that these dendritic cells were able to stimulate both immune cells generating antibodies and those which slay other cells. This study, was reported in the journal Gene Therapy.
The patient would in effect be treated with their own immune cells to prime an attack on their cancers, explained Dr Fairchild. He admits that any therapy is a far-away prospect. It is a lengthy and arduous process in comparison to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he concluded.
source : www.bbc.co.uk/news