The Chinese have created a virus that makes the body destroy cancer by itself
21 July 14:45
Chinese scientists have invented a cheap cancer drug. This development opens up new horizons in the fight against serious diseases such as cancer, asthma, and autoimmune diseases. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the South China Morning Post.
A team of Chinese medical experts claims to be able to produce anti-cancer cells directly in the human body using gene therapy tools.
The uniqueness of the project lies in the use of simpler and more cost-effective ways to cultivate and modify cells. This can significantly reduce the cost of production. As a result, treatments that were previously unavailable due to their high cost can now save more lives.
In a new study published in the journal The Lancet, a team of experts from the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical University (Wuhan) used a genetically modified virus to be directly injected into the patient’s body. This virus will find T-cells and program them to attack cancer cells without the need for external intervention.
The essence of the discovery
The traditional approach of CAR-T therapy involves extracting the patient’s T cells, reconfiguring them genetically in the laboratory and returning them back. The new method injects genetic material directly into the body, and the immune cells turn into therapeutic cells on their own. This greatly simplifies the process and reduces the cost of treatment.
Clinical data
- Chinese researchers have already implemented this technology in four patients with multiple myeloma, proving its effectiveness in treating blood cancer.
- According to SCMP, the treatment cost 139 thousand dollars.
In the first phase of the study, the team treated four patients with multiple myeloma, the second most common type of blood cancer, with a single injection. The treatment took only 72 hours to complete, as opposed to the 3-6 weeks typically required with traditional CAR-T therapy. After a two-month follow-up, two patients achieved complete remission (tumor foci disappeared), and two others achieved partial remission (tumor shrank in 28 days).
It should be noted that the new Chinese technology has the ability to treat a wide range of diseases. It is based on modifying the patient’s immune cells. These cells are then directed to fight cancerous tumors or suppress inflammatory processes that cause autoimmune diseases, including asthma.
Currently, the new cell therapy is actively undergoing clinical trials in China. The first results are encouraging, indicating high efficacy and safety. Scientists are confident that in the near future this advanced technology will become widespread, bringing relief and hope to millions of people suffering from cancer and other serious diseases.
