Gene Therapy Shows Promise Against Blood Cancers

A recent study looks at the possibility of gene therapy in preventing leukemia and other blood cancers.

A few patients with one type of leukemia were given the chance to participate in a one-time, experimental therapy several years ago that left some of them cancer-free today. And because of these findings, at least six research groups have treated more than 120 patients with many types of blood and bone marrow cancers using gene therapy.

"It's really exciting," said Dr. Janis Abkowitz, blood diseases chief at the University of Washington in Seattle and president of the American Society of Hematology, via The Washington Post. "You can take a cell that belongs to a patient and engineer it to be an attack cell."

One study looked at five adults and 19 of 22 children who had acute lymphoctic leukemia (ALL). With the gene therapy, they were all cleared and few relapsed since the study was completed, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Another trial looked at 15 of 32 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who initially responded to the therapy and seven had experienced a complete remission of their disease, according to a news release from trial researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.

As many may no longer have the option for a bone marrow transplantation or are unable to receive certain treatments, some researchers believe that gene therapy could become a much needed alternative for those with various types of blood cancers.

Studies show that the patients' blood is removed via white blood cells known as T-cells that are part of the body's immune system. A gene is then added to the T-cells that target the cancer, cause the altered cells to return to the patent's body via infusions that are given over the course of three days, according to Health Day.

As the gene therapy must be made individually for each person, it's estimated that with lab costs, it costs close to $25,000.