In the article "T-Cell Immunotherapy Cure for Cancer" on MIT Technology Review, it is discovered that T cell immunotherapy has a successful cure rate on a patient who has reemission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immunotherapy is an approach to use gene therapy to make immune system targets cancer cells in patients’ body. The study then conducts on around 61 patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Hans Bishop, a former Bayer executive who is the Juno company’s CEO states that the reassigns of this therapy’s success are unknown. Additionally, Bishop asserts that the study has small participants, and it doesn’t have a control group to conduct a comparison. The study, however, shows positive outcomes. Bishop claims that this new approach has opened new paths for treating and curing cancers. This approach uses living cells as drugs to attack cancerous cells. In this case, researchers use engineered T cells to fight back leukemia. T cells are part of the immune system cells.
Juno is not the only company that conducts clinical trails on this approach. There other 30 companies use immunotherapy to fight back other types of cancerous cells. In the article, it indicates that the cost of preparing a dose of T cell ranges from $50,000 to $75,000. Juno announces that researchers will conduct 10 studies on six types of T cells, and test it not only on patients with leukemia, but also on patients with different types of cancer. The company's new aim is whether or not this type of treatment works on other types of cancer as well. Novartis and Penn report that low doses of engineered T cells haven't shown any effects in five patients with cancers of the pancreas, ovaries, or lung. However, this study is still in its initial clinical trials.
At Dendreon corporation, the modestly effective treatment costs around $90,000. The article states that the manufacture costs half of that price, and company declares its bankruptcy last year. They had 400 staff members to work in developing gene and cell therapy. On the other hand, Citygroup analyst estimates the cost of dose of genetically engineered cells is around $500,000. Comparing to chemotherapy's hospital bills that could cost up to $2 million, immunotherapy is cheaper. Chemotherapy recovery lasts for a year or so and could cause complications to patients' organs, whereas immunotherapy is cheaper, has positive effects and doesn't cause organs damages.
Article Source:
A T-Cell Immunotherapy Cure for Cancer | MIT Technology Review (MIT Technology Review)
Wow very interesting study! That is crazy how far the science of research has come but also that is unbelievable how expensive treatment and research can be. I don't understand how they can make the things that better our society so expensive. Very good job Ghofran very intriguing study choice!
ReplyDeleteThis is really a new hope for cancer victims. The cost of this treatment is really hight! However, for this new treatment, did they mention the side effects? also, I see that they are going to try it on wide verity of cancers, but as we know each cancer is different, how are they going to solve this problem?
ReplyDeleteOnce again, a very interesting article and blog post in general. You mentioned a "successful cure rate on a patient who has reemission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia" in your first paragraph. Do you mean that the treatment helped the patient quickly, or that the cure works for patients who have reemission of ALL in general?
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