A breakthrough in eradicating cancer | Eric Tran | TEDxPortland
TEDx Talks・9 minutes read
The potential of the immune system to cure cancer is highlighted through adoptive cell therapy, TCR gene therapy, and mutation-reactive T-cells, showing promising results in patients with various types of cancer. Despite advancements in cancer treatment, approximately 600,000 people are still expected to die from cancer in the US this year, underscoring the ongoing need for innovative therapies like those discussed.
Insights
- The immune system can potentially cure advanced cancer by recognizing and targeting cancer cells, but cancer can evade this response, highlighting the intricate battle between the immune system and cancer cells.
- Innovative therapies like adoptive cell therapy and TCR gene therapy show promising results in treating difficult-to-treat cancers, offering hope for patients like Melinda Bachini and Kathy Wilkes, and paving the way for advancements in T-cell gene engineering to combat cancer more effectively.
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Recent questions
Can the immune system cure cancer?
Yes, the speaker highlights the potential of the immune system in eradicating cancer, stating that it can cure advanced cancer. The immune system's T-cells play a crucial role in recognizing and targeting cancer cells, but cancer can evade the immune response. Adoptive cell therapy, developed by Dr. Steve Rosenberg, involves amplifying tumor-reactive T-cells and reinfusing them into patients to combat cancer, showing success in curing some patients with metastatic melanoma and difficult-to-treat cancers like bile duct cancer and pancreatic cancer.
How does adoptive cell therapy combat cancer?
Adoptive cell therapy involves amplifying tumor-reactive T-cells and reinfusing them into patients to combat cancer. Developed by Dr. Steve Rosenberg, this therapy has shown success in curing some patients with metastatic melanoma, leading to the complete eradication of cancer. Mutation-reactive T-cells have also been harnessed to treat difficult-to-treat cancers, showing promising results in patients like Melinda Bachini with bile duct cancer.
What is TCR gene therapy for cancer?
TCR gene therapy involves the genetic insertion of T-cell receptors targeting cancer mutations. This therapy has shown success in shrinking tumors in patients like Kathy Wilkes with pancreatic cancer. The advancements in T-cell gene engineering, such as TCR gene therapy, pave the way for further developments in combating cancer by targeting specific mutations.
How many people are expected to die from cancer this year?
Approximately 600,000 people are expected to die from cancer this year in the US, which is equivalent to the population of Portland. Despite decreasing cancer death rates, the number of cancer-related deaths remains significant, highlighting the ongoing need for advancements in cancer treatment and therapies.
What did the speaker witness during a family trip to Vancouver?
During a family trip to Vancouver, the speaker recalls hearing their grandmother throwing up due to chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. This experience at a young age left an impact on the speaker, highlighting the challenges and side effects associated with cancer treatment.
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Summary
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"Unlocking the Immune System to Cure Cancer"
- The speaker recalls learning about cancer at a young age during a family trip to Vancouver, Canada, where they heard their grandmother throwing up due to chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.
- Despite decreasing cancer death rates in the US, approximately 600,000 people are expected to die from cancer this year, equivalent to the population of Portland.
- The speaker emphasizes the potential of the immune system in eradicating cancer, stating that it can cure advanced cancer.
- The immune system's T-cells play a crucial role in recognizing and targeting cancer cells, but cancer can evade the immune response.
- Adoptive cell therapy, developed by Dr. Steve Rosenberg, involves amplifying tumor-reactive T-cells and reinfusing them into patients to combat cancer.
- The therapy has shown success in curing some patients with metastatic melanoma, leading to the complete eradication of cancer.
- Mutation-reactive T-cells have been harnessed to treat difficult-to-treat cancers, showing promising results in patients like Melinda Bachini with bile duct cancer.
- TCR gene therapy, involving the genetic insertion of T-cell receptors targeting cancer mutations, has shown success in shrinking tumors in patients like Kathy Wilkes with pancreatic cancer, paving the way for further advancements in T-cell gene engineering to combat cancer.
