Cell Therapy

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The article “A Cell Therapy Untested in Humans Saves a Baby with Cancer” written by Andrew Pollack discusses a new therapy that was developed by Cellectis, a French biotechnology company. The Cellectis Biotechnology Company has been working on a cell therapy that involves genetically altering the patient's T cells, which actively participate in the immune response to better attack cancer. According to the article the researchers first version of cell therapy required removing T cells from the patient, sending them to a manufacturing plant where they were altered, then shipping them back in order to place them into the patient. Unfortunately, this was proven to be very costly and challenging. However, for the first time doctors used this new …show more content…
The patient Layla Richards was expected to die from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, however by doctors receiving the permission from her parents and Cellectis she was the first person to receive the treatment. As a result, doctors and researchers will be able to see how effective this treatment is for humans. As of now Layla is in remission with no signs of leukemia in her blood or bone. The advancement of genome editing has led to the ability to make a treatment that is “universal” also known as non personalized where doctors can use T cells from a healthy donor that are modified to target leukemia cells , which can be placed into cancer patients. Cellectis the Biotechnology Company has also had other advancements in genome editing, such as using molecular scissors to make alterations to DNA. Although, this new treatment will not enter clinical trials till next year in the future this new treatment may provide more options for cancer patients. Layla’s medical case is evidence enough that this cell therapy may actual work. Although, it will take a long time before Cellectis therapy reaches the market if it does it will be cost efficient and a time