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The Philadelphia mesothelioma attorneys at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler are eager to report that a new innovative gene therapy has shown encouraging results in the fight against leukemia. The immunotherapy aims to reprogram a patient’s immune system to help fight the cancer. These promising results may prove to be helpful in the future for other types of cancer and mesothelioma.
The experimental treatment known as T-cell immunotherapy was developed at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The therapy begins with the process of removing millions of the patient’s own T-cells, a type of white blood cell. They are re-engineered in a laboratory by exposing them to an inactivated form of the HIV virus. The altered T-cells are then infused back into the patient where they begin to multiply. These genetically altered T-cells target the cancer cells and kill them. Essentially, a patient’s immune system is reprogrammed.
The researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used the T-Cell immunotherapy to treat twelve leukemia patients. Nine of the patients responded to the treatment. Doctors are using the information that they learned from the clinical trial to continue their research.
Currently, a clinical trial is being conducted using the modified T-cell approach in treating adults diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is hoped that this T-cell treatment could someday replace or reduce the need for the risky and arduous bone marrow transplant that has been used as a last resort therapy for leukemia patients. Also, the researchers are anticipating and planning on expanding this immunotherapy to include a variety of other tumors and cancers as well as mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is solely caused by an exposure to asbestos. In fact, one of the largest drug companies, Novartis, has pledged $20 million dollars to help build a research facility at the University of Pennsylvania. This collaborative effort would aim to further research, develop and commercialize the immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.
In addition to the University of Pennsylvania, other institutions such as the National Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York have also started their own research into using T-cells for similar therapies.
The Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler are encouraged by the results of the research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania. This new groundbreaking gene therapy approach may prove successful in helping mesothelioma patients. Our compassionate and dedicated lawyers are devoted to representing clients suffering from the devastating effects of an asbestos exposure and support our clients by keeping up to date with latest therapies that are available to our mesothelioma clients.
If you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, we encourage you to contact one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys as soon as possible. We represent clients throughout the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our qualified Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers, call 215-569-4000 or submit an online contact form.