A Victoria team is playing a central role in developing a cancer therapy that shows a 90 per cent complete response rate for certain types of leukemia that are otherwise fatal, says a researcher at the Deeley Research Centre.
Immunotherapy is an approach for cancer treatment that uses the patient91裸聊视频檚 own immune system 91裸聊视频� getting it fired up to destroy cancer cells. It91裸聊视频檚 a path Brad Nelson started working in two decades ago, and the last five years have yielded impressive results globally.
91裸聊视频淭wenty years ago, (immunotherapy) was very much a futuristic idea,91裸聊视频� said Nelson, co-director of the centre based at BC Cancer adjacent to Royal Jubilee Hospital. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e gone from being a bit on the fringes 91裸聊视频� to now doctors, nurses are delivering some types of therapy as standard of care for many cancers.91裸聊视频�
Nelson first embarked on T-cell studies as an option to work alongside standard chemotherapy and radiation. Twenty years later, it91裸聊视频檚 working.
91裸聊视频淭his has been a global phenomenon with breakthroughs at centres around the world,91裸聊视频� Nelson said.
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The ultimate goal is to develop safe, potent and cost-effective immunotherapies to battle a range of cancers.
One area of research using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells is showing significant signs of success. In the simplest of terms, they take a patient91裸聊视频檚 immune cells 91裸聊视频� in particular T-cells 91裸聊视频� and insert a gene that rewires them. Now hardwired to recognize the cancer, the genetically engineered cells go back into the patient91裸聊视频檚 blood stream and circulate.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e now hardwired to 91裸聊视频� when they see a tumour cell 91裸聊视频� latch on and destroy it,91裸聊视频� Nelson said.
In oncology terms, it91裸聊视频檚 still a recent development, but showing spectacular results in blood-based cancers, he added.
International clinical trials have shown (CAR) T-cells can achieve up to a 90 per cent complete response rate for certain types of leukemia that are otherwise fatal 91裸聊视频� the tumour goes away, it91裸聊视频檚 undetectable, Nelson explained.
The Victoria lab has a purpose-built clean room to manufacture the genetically engineered cells. With approvals, the team embarked on a patient trial with treatment taking place in Vancouver and Ottawa. The consortium has treated 60 patients on this trial and recently published results for the first 30 in a peer-reviewed international journal documenting the treatment is safe and effective, Nelson said.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e also figured out how to make it cost-effective.91裸聊视频�
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Alongside success, the treatment rapidly became commercialized to tune of a $1 million treatment in the U.S.
91裸聊视频淚n Canada, we looked at those numbers and thought there91裸聊视频檚 just no way our health-care system can support those costs,91裸聊视频� Nelson said. 91裸聊视频淚n B.C. alone, there are about 100 patients a year that need this therapy.91裸聊视频�
Along the way, they91裸聊视频檝e created the next generation of cutting-edge clinical researchers
91裸聊视频淎nother accomplishment of the program is we91裸聊视频檝e created this generation of highly trained, largely younger people who have these skills and great jobs in producing this very sophisticated cancer treatment and really setting B.C. up for the future.91裸聊视频�
Julie Nielsen took on the role as leader of cell manufacturing for BC Cancer91裸聊视频檚 immunotherapy program about a year ago. She91裸聊视频檚 been at the agency for 15 years, lured there by the enthusiastic work of Nelson.
Early on, she was working with patient samples and got to talk to patients. Even though she couldn91裸聊视频檛 treat them, patients were interested in hearing about the work and its potential.
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91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e always loved being here and loved my job for a lot of reasons. Mainly the patient focus,91裸聊视频� Nielsen said. 91裸聊视频淣ow we91裸聊视频檙e really treating patients. I91裸聊视频檝e talked to some of these people and heard their stories, and they91裸聊视频檙e just so grateful. It91裸聊视频檚 so inspiring.91裸聊视频�
Both researchers are grateful to the community that helps fund the work. Beyond Belief is the latest ambitious BC Cancer Foundation campaign to raise $500 million with the goal of investing in research, technology and access. The BC Cancer Foundation raised $77.1 million for BC Cancer last year.
Victoria91裸聊视频檚 Deeley Research Centre was funded by the community through the BC Cancer Foundation and much of Nelson91裸聊视频檚 research has been made possible through community donations, said William Litchfield, executive director.
91裸聊视频淭his is an amazing example of how our community has invested to make a real difference in cancer care, and with our community91裸聊视频檚 continued support we will continue to make world-class breakthroughs,91裸聊视频� Litchfield said.
Learn more about the campaign at bccancerfoundation.com.
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
