Researchers at Cardiff University have discovered a new T-cell that can fight all types of cancer. This they report this week in the magazine Nature Immunloogy. Whether the discovery leads to the ultimate treatment method against cancer is the question, but the theory sounds hopeful. Mirjam Heemskerk and Peter Hoogerbrugge talk about the discovery De Nieuws BV.
Lab tests have shown that the method works against prostate, breast and lung cancer, among other things. “There are still quite a few hooks and eyes on it, but if it were as they claim it would be very nice,” says Mirjam Heemskerk researcher at the LUMC.
What is a T-Cell?
T cells are white blood cells that are part of our immune system. These cells recognize everything that does not belong in the body and cause virus infected cells to be attacked. The reason that T cells do not work well against cancer is because cancer cells mainly come from their own body.
In order to combat cancer cells, the T cells must therefore be adapted and that is why researchers have been looking for years for different receptors, also known as antennas. These antennas ensure that T cells detect and switch off cancer cells.
How does it work in practice?
This method is not new, it is already being applied in practice. For example, the Princess Máxima Center has recently introduced CAR-T therapy in their arsenal. Children with a B-cell acute lymphatic leukemia are helped with this innovative treatment.
“These are children who have a very poor chance of being cured, less than 10 percent. With this CAR-T they can get 50-60 percent of a cure. That’s really great,” said Peter Hoogerbrugge Pediatric Oncologist at the Princess Máxima Center.
Years of research at LUMC
With the CAR-T, use is made of the T-cells of the patient that are collected, adjusted and replaced. These modified cells then ensure that the cancer cells are switched off.
At the LUMC, too, they have been researching T cells for years, but in a different way. There they search for natural receptors instead of man-made receptors. They do this by examining the T cells of a healthy person and seeing if they have T cells with receptors that a tumor can recognize and switch off.
What is new about the research from Wales?
The researchers at Cardiff University hope that they have found a T-cell receptor that can detect and combat all types of cancer. A ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment. Whether this discovery will lead to the ultimate treatment method against cancer is questionable. A lot of research is still needed and that will take years. But the theory sounds hopeful.
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