Targeted treatments: the rise of CAR T-cells While broad-brush treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can destroy cancer cells effectively, damage to healthy cells is unavoidable. Our immune systems are programmed to fight off viruses and bacteria, but aren’t great at fighting off cancer, because it’s caused by our own cells multiplying out of control. Our immune system has difficulty recognising it as a threat and doesn’t attack it. In the last decade, researchers have discovered a way to remove the cancer ‘blindfold’ on our immune systems and a new wave of targeted cancer treatment has arrived. These therapies are ‘locked on’ to cancer cells, concentrating their full power where
it’s needed most. Damage to healthy tissue is minimised or nonexistent, vastly reducing the risk of side effects. One promising technique involves modifying the genetic code inside the body’s own immune cells, enabling them to recognise, hunt down and destroy cancer cells. These modified cells are known as CAR T-cells. GOSH researchers are leading the way in Europe in applying this incredible technology to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) that has come back after treatment. In 2015, the first child in the world was treated with ‘universal’ CAR T-cells at GOSH and, in 2018, GOSH became the first hospital in the UK to
2013 Launch of one of the first European CAR T-cell studies, pioneered by Professor Persis Amrolia. It paves the way in this rapidly emerging field, but this type of CAR T-cells have now been superceded by ‘next generation’ cells that are more effective. 2015 GOSH immunologist Professor Waseem Qasim used CAR T-cells to treat a oneyear-old patient with ‘incurable’ leukaemia. His incredible world-first sparked a new wave of CAR T-cell research around the world. 24
20_12_IG_Legacy_Cancer Breakthrough Guide_booklet_UPDATE_ST2.indd 24
09/02/2021 11:10
