A Victoria team is playing a central role in developing a cancer therapy that shows a 90 per cent complete response rate for certain types of leukemia that are otherwise fatal, says a researcher at the Deeley Research Centre.

Immunotherapy is an approach for cancer treatment that uses the patient香蕉视频直播檚 own immune system 香蕉视频直播� getting it fired up to destroy cancer cells. It香蕉视频直播檚 a path Brad Nelson started working in two decades ago, and the last five years have yielded impressive results globally.

香蕉视频直播淭wenty years ago, (immunotherapy) was very much a futuristic idea,香蕉视频直播� said Nelson, co-director of the centre based at BC Cancer adjacent to Royal Jubilee Hospital. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e gone from being a bit on the fringes 香蕉视频直播� to now doctors, nurses are delivering some types of therapy as standard of care for many cancers.香蕉视频直播�

Nelson first embarked on T-cell studies as an option to work alongside standard chemotherapy and radiation. Twenty years later, it香蕉视频直播檚 working.

香蕉视频直播淭his has been a global phenomenon with breakthroughs at centres around the world,香蕉视频直播� Nelson said.

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The ultimate goal is to develop safe, potent and cost-effective immunotherapies to battle a range of cancers.

One area of research using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells is showing significant signs of success. In the simplest of terms, they take a patient香蕉视频直播檚 immune cells 香蕉视频直播� in particular T-cells 香蕉视频直播� and insert a gene that rewires them. Now hardwired to recognize the cancer, the genetically engineered cells go back into the patient香蕉视频直播檚 blood stream and circulate.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e now hardwired to 香蕉视频直播� when they see a tumour cell 香蕉视频直播� latch on and destroy it,香蕉视频直播� Nelson said.

In oncology terms, it香蕉视频直播檚 still a recent development, but showing spectacular results in blood-based cancers, he added.

International clinical trials have shown (CAR) T-cells can achieve up to a 90 per cent complete response rate for certain types of leukemia that are otherwise fatal 香蕉视频直播� the tumour goes away, it香蕉视频直播檚 undetectable, Nelson explained.

The Victoria lab has a purpose-built clean room to manufacture the genetically engineered cells. With approvals, the team embarked on a patient trial with treatment taking place in Vancouver and Ottawa. The consortium has treated 60 patients on this trial and recently published results for the first 30 in a peer-reviewed international journal documenting the treatment is safe and effective, Nelson said.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e also figured out how to make it cost-effective.香蕉视频直播�

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Alongside success, the treatment rapidly became commercialized to tune of a $1 million treatment in the U.S.

香蕉视频直播淚n Canada, we looked at those numbers and thought there香蕉视频直播檚 just no way our health-care system can support those costs,香蕉视频直播� Nelson said. 香蕉视频直播淚n B.C. alone, there are about 100 patients a year that need this therapy.香蕉视频直播�

Along the way, they香蕉视频直播檝e created the next generation of cutting-edge clinical researchers

香蕉视频直播淎nother accomplishment of the program is we香蕉视频直播檝e created this generation of highly trained, largely younger people who have these skills and great jobs in producing this very sophisticated cancer treatment and really setting B.C. up for the future.香蕉视频直播�

Julie Nielsen took on the role as leader of cell manufacturing for BC Cancer香蕉视频直播檚 immunotherapy program about a year ago. She香蕉视频直播檚 been at the agency for 15 years, lured there by the enthusiastic work of Nelson.

Early on, she was working with patient samples and got to talk to patients. Even though she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 treat them, patients were interested in hearing about the work and its potential.

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香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e always loved being here and loved my job for a lot of reasons. Mainly the patient focus,香蕉视频直播� Nielsen said. 香蕉视频直播淣ow we香蕉视频直播檙e really treating patients. I香蕉视频直播檝e talked to some of these people and heard their stories, and they香蕉视频直播檙e just so grateful. It香蕉视频直播檚 so inspiring.香蕉视频直播�

Both researchers are grateful to the community that helps fund the work. Beyond Belief is the latest ambitious BC Cancer Foundation campaign to raise $500 million with the goal of investing in research, technology and access. The BC Cancer Foundation raised $77.1 million for BC Cancer last year.

Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 Deeley Research Centre was funded by the community through the BC Cancer Foundation and much of Nelson香蕉视频直播檚 research has been made possible through community donations, said William Litchfield, executive director.

香蕉视频直播淭his is an amazing example of how our community has invested to make a real difference in cancer care, and with our community香蕉视频直播檚 continued support we will continue to make world-class breakthroughs,香蕉视频直播� Litchfield said.

Learn more about the campaign at bccancerfoundation.com.

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca