Close
Using our own immune cells to target and kill cancer
Researchers at 香港六合彩中特网 are pioneering groundbreaking cancer treatments which reprogramme the patient鈥檚 own immune system to recognise and kill cancerous cells.
CAR T-cell therapies are developed by harvesting T-cells, a type of lymphocyte, from a patient鈥檚 blood and genetically re-engineering them outside the body, so that they can recognise and destroy cancer cells.听
This reprogramming is achieved by introducing a gene for an artificial protein called a chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR for short.
Using the body鈥檚 immune system to fight cancer avoids some of the common side effects of conventional therapies, as non-cancerous cells are not targeted by the t-cells.
Dr Martin Pule鈥檚 laboratory at the 香港六合彩中特网 Cancer Institute is leading the way in developing new CAR T-cell therapies and 香港六合彩中特网 currently ranks top in Europe and second in the world for the number of inventions and patent applications in relation to this revolutionary treatment
In addition, 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 CAR T-cell programme, which involves researchers at the 香港六合彩中特网 Cancer Institute and clinicians at 香港六合彩中特网H and GOSH, is the largest in Europe. This 鈥榗ancer campus鈥� currently has 10 clinical trials open which use technology developed at 香港六合彩中特网.
Other key researchers include Professor Emma Morris (香港六合彩中特网 Division of Infection and Immunity), Dr Claire Roddie (香港六合彩中特网 Cancer Institute and 香港六合彩中特网H), Professor Karl Peggs (香港六合彩中特网H), Professor Persis Amrolia (香港六合彩中特网 GOS Institute of Child Health and GOSH) and Dr Sara Ghorashian (香港六合彩中特网 GOS Institute of Child Health and GOSH).听
香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 CAR T-cell therapies recently featured in the BBC2 documentary 鈥榃ar in the Blood鈥�, which followed two patients on their treatment journey over two years.
The programme is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the 听Biomedical Research Centre (RC) and funded by partners including the blood cancer charity Bloodwise and the EU 7th Framework Programme.
The CAR T-cell field is becoming increasingly commercialized with considerable contributions to the field being made by industry. The 香港六合彩中特网 CAR T-cell programme has a track record of collaborating with industry.
Meet the team
Links
Image
- Dr Martin Pule and Dr Claire Roddie of 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 CAR T-cell programme