Pioneering new treatment to detect and fight breast cancer

12th May 2008

Breast Cancer Campaign’s Scientific Conference - Breast Cancer Research 2008

London scientist, Dr John Maher based at Kings College, today told a packed Breast Cancer Campaign conference that the body’s own immune system could soon be used as a powerful new treatment to detect and fight breast cancer (May 13).

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 Maher and his team have developed a method to alter white blood cells so they are able to identify and kill breast cancer cells.

Dr Maher 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.

Dr Maher said, “This three year study, recently published in the Journal of Immunology, 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. This research could benefit thousands of women with advanced or incurable breast cancer.

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