Monday, June 5, 2017

More on CAR-T Cells

We have been following the progress on CAR-T cells over the past few years. The recent result reported in Science Daily is of special import. Namely:

In an early clinical trial, 33 out of 35 (94 percent) patients had clinical remission of multiple myeloma upon receiving a new type of immunotherapy -- chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting B-cell maturation protein or BCMA. Most patients had only mild side effects. 

Namely, find a target on the desired cell and then create a "smart bomb" the CAR-T cell, and then set it loose. It seems to be working much more effectively now. It still has some "carpet bombing effects" but this may very well change the paradigm for cancer treatment.

Namely, find a surface target, then construct a patient specific attack element, then let the immune system loose. Very worth while to follow!