In May 2022, 13-year-old Alice became the first registered patient in the world to receive the therapy
In 2021, a 13-year-old girl named Alicediagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Treatment with traditional methods, including chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, did not improve her condition. She was included in a clinical trial of a new treatment at London's Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
Therapy for 28 days resulted in cancer remission. She had an improved bone marrow transplant.
A patient who received an experimental treatment. Image: Great Ormond Street Hospital
The researchers used a new techniquegenome editing, called basic editing. The goal is to create a new type of CAR T cell therapy that attacks cancerous T cells. Basic editing works by chemically transforming individual letters of the DNA code (single nucleotide bases) to change T cells, the authors explain.
In the process of T-cell modification from a healthythe donor underwent a series of changes. As a result of a series of changes, they "learn" to elude the patient's immune system, not to attack each other, but to find and recognize the patient's cancer cells.
Recall that T cells are lymphocytes thatare responsible for the recognition and destruction of cells with foreign antigens. The researchers note that the successful application of this technology paves the way for other new treatments and ultimately a better future for sick children.
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