BIG NEWS: Cancer Cure in Five Years?


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Scientists in Manchester say a cure for all types of cancer could be available on the NHS within five years.

The world's first patient trials in a technique which genetically engineers cells will take place at the city's Christie Hospital later this year.

The treatment - gene-modified t-cell therapy - could replace more intrusive treatments like chemotherapy.

The cells are fitted with a "tracker" device to kill cancer cells before being injected back into the patient.

Professor Robert Hawkins, clinical director of Medical oncology at the hospital, says the initial results of lab tests have been "spectacular".

More traditional treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy destroy both healthy and cancerous cells.

The new system makes the body naturally seek out and kill tumours by boosting the infection-fighting t-cells.

The body does not naturally have enough of these cells to combat huge tumours, and cancer cells often develop protective mechanisms to avoid them being recognised by the body as a disease.

Doctors will take blood samples from cancer patients to extract t-cells. They then genetically modify the t-cells, attaching an antibody which works like a tracking device to enable the t-cells to zone in on cancer tumours.

The t-cells are then multiplied a thousand-fold over a two-week period and injected back into the patient's body.

Professor Hawkins is appealing for funds to build a lab to genetically engineer t-cells, so that the treatment can be available for patients that cancer drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have already failed.

Star's appeal

He said: "In the lab we have seen spectacular results in lung tumours and in the brain. It's remarkable.

"Given as an injection, it could get rid of a widespread range of tumours."

About ?250,000 is needed through the Christie Appeal to pay for nurses with specialist training, research doctors and equipment.

Earlier this week, the hospital launched a new fundraising appeal backed by BBC One's Dr Who star, Christopher Eccleston, who was born in Salford.

Those wanting to give to the Christie Appeal can call the 24-hour donation line on 0800 1954321.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...ter/4423847.stm

Big news this. the scientists saying that results have been the best they have seen from ANY sort of treatment

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There's something I don't quite understand... If they are supposedly on the way of developing such a sure-fire way of curing cancer, why do they need to raise ?250,000? Shouldn't they be getting millions in research grants without a problem? Shouldn't it cost more than ?250,000 anyways?

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sweet...i lost my grandpa 2 lung T...aunt to lung T...another aunti to brain T...****...cant stand the ****in word...

i hope this works...i really cant stand to see another person die from this ****...

great news man..great news....

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Sounds promising. Once they find a cure for Cancer they should find a cure for AIDS. Or something to eliminate the HIV virus from spreading in your body.

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There's no such thing as the T-virus. The worst thing that could happen to a t-cell is genetic mutation. Other than that it's harmless and helpful. Without t-cells our bodies can't fight off infections, viruses, and other harmful threats.

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This is great indeed. I have been confident this has been coming & have believed for some time that it is only a matter of years away, now this news. Too late for my family (i lost my mother when i was 15 & my brother 3 years ago) but when you think that 1 in 3 will get cancer at some point you understand the scale of this news..

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That's good to hear. Now we can start research on those other matters that are slightly less important, like erectile dysfunction. O wait. . . . .

Gotta love the prioritzing

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Good news indeed.

It was incredible when months ago the Koreans managed to make a paralyzed woman walk again after 20 years. Any progress in science is good or great progress.

Let's hope the man with the cure for cancer at the end won't get sniped by a goverment official.

Cancer is more important than 'erectile dysfunction'.

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Damn straight. Us boys we are afraid of Prostate and Testicular Cancer. Bad enough to have a cancer but one that affects your private tools is the worst thing that could happend.
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I don't see how this is different then current treatments available, like Interferon Alfa-2B. Interferon does the same thing, speeding up the immune system and getting it to recognize cancer as "bad."

The problem with Interferon, and would probably be the problem with this new treatment, would be that you'd still have to go through surgery, and then this type of treatment would be for long term care, much like current chemotherapy and Interferon.

And how can they be sure that it will attack all cancers? Chemotheraphy, as widly popular as it is for oncological use, doesn't have an affect on say melenoma, which if you don't know, is a highly aggressive and very deadly form of skin cancer.

And of course they dont' mention side effects at all. Chemo and interferon side effects suck, bottom line. Some do well, most don't do so well on them. I'd imagine that the side effects from this new study would be pretty similar, and include at least some sort of appetite loss, fatigue, possibly depression, risk of infection, and others. Those are just related to increasing the immune system, not to mention the drugs themselves. Eye sight is at risk with current medication, hair loss of course, and tons more.

So everytime I hear of some new wonder drug to cure cancer, I'm more interested in hearing the side effects. Current treatments are very succesful, but are very brutal on the body. I'd rather not replace something current with something more brutal.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go inject myself with another interferon shot.

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Cure in five years huh? Isn't that what they said back in 1983? I hope it works this time.

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This is great indeed. I have been confident this has been coming & have believed for some time that it is only a matter of years away, now this news. Too late for my family (i lost my mother when i was 15 & my brother 3 years ago) but when you think that 1 in 3 will get cancer at some point you understand the scale of this news..

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i think the chance is 1 in 2 now actually.

i think this is great news and i hope they can get it to work. i've lost a lot of people close to me due to cancer. and i know many people right now with it.

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