Scientists turbo-charge immune cells to fight cancer

piggy submitted, created time 2 weeks 3 days (news.yahoo.com)

Scientists in the United States have created super-charged immune cells that helped beat back cancer tumors in half of a small group of patients tested, according to a study released Sunday.

Adding an artificial receptor to T-lymphocyte immune cells boosted their ability to fight a deadly form of cancer called neuroblastoma, the researchers reported.

Neuroblastoma attacks the nervous system. While fairly rare, it accounts for seven percent of all childhood cancers, and fifteen percent of non-adult cancer deaths

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Gene Identified for Deadly Childhood Cancer

sea-maid submitted, created time 2 months 3 weeks (sciencenow.sciencemag.org)

Fifteen years of genetic sleuthing have finally paid off: Researchers have nailed the gene that appears to cause an inherited form of neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system that predominantly strikes children. Scientists are optimistic that the findings will allow them to develop disease screening for some families, as well as lead to potential new therapies.

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