Pioneering new treatment to detect and fight breast cancer

1st April 2008

The body’s own immune system could soon be used as a powerful new treatment to detect and fight breast cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers funded by Breast Cancer Campaign at King’s College, London, have developed a new way for the body to detect and fight breast cancer.

White blood cells play an important role in recognising and fighting infection, such as a cold or flu, by spotting proteins in the bacteria which cause the infection that are different from normal cells. But they are currently unable to recognise cancer cells.

Dr Scott Wilkie, first author of the study published in the Journal of Immunology, has developed a method to alter white blood cells so they are able to identify and kill breast cancer cells.

Dr Wilkie is confident that this treatment could work in humans by extracting the patient’s white blood cells from a blood sample, modifying them in the laboratory and then introducing them back into the patient, similar to a blood transfusion.

Project leader, Dr John Maher in the Division of Cancer Studies at Kings College, London, said, “This three year study demonstrates that we can make it possible for white blood cells to kill breast cancer cells. We hope to follow this study with a clinical trial in patients with incurable breast cancer.”

Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “This research could benefit thousands of women with advanced or incurable breast cancer. We hope that this remarkable work can be translated into treatments for patients in the future.”

Call Breast Cancer Campaign's press office on 020 7749 4115
or email press@breastcancercampaign.org
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