Doctors at the Cancer Center at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia (USA) have made a real breakthrough in medicine by learning how to treat cancer with HIV. Experts conducted genetic engineering research and were able to reprogram the deadly virus.
Thus, in three weeks, HIV cured the girl, who had two days of life, according to the CBS television channel. Seven-year-old Emily Whitehead from New Jersey battled lymphoblastic leukemia for two years. The doctors prescribed her radiation and chemotherapy sessions, but there were no visible results.
In the end, the girl felt a little better, but just before the major bone marrow transplant surgery she had a relapse. Then the doctors put an end to the possibility of recovery. Emily had only days to go before her organs were supposed to fail.
Then the parents transported the girl to the children's hospital in Philadelphia, which is famous for one of the best cancer centers in the United States. Center director Stefan Group offered the parents an experimental but promising treatment called CTL019 therapy.
The essence of the method is that scientists modify the HIV virus. Its genetic code is altered in such a way that an infected T cell attacks cancerous tissue without affecting healthy tissue. Healthy lymphocytes do not fight at all. Infected T cells recognize cancer cells thanks to the specific protein CD19.
The treatment is incredibly dangerous: infection is accompanied by the final decline of the already weakened immune system, as well as terrible pain. Emily had little chance of surviving the first night after the operation, but without the intervention, the girl would not have survived two days.
After the introduction of the modified virus, Emily's condition improved in just a few hours. The doctors noted that she began to breathe more evenly, her temperature and pressure returned to normal. To the doctors' surprise, after three weeks there was no sign of cancer.
Six months have passed since the end of the course, which was held in April, but there are still no signs of oncology in the baby's body. Infected T-cells protect the body and now this is another advantage of the new treatment method over traditional methods. An additional 12 patients were treated with CTL019 therapy. Nine of these attempts ended positively.
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Two other children who took part in the study also showed complete remission. Despite the fact that the cost of treatment is quite high (20 thousand dollars per session), scientists hope that this method will develop, become more accessible and help millions of people who have lost hope.
Probably, over time, this procedure will eliminate the need for an expensive bone marrow transplant. Emily's parents are extremely proud of their brave daughter, who seemed to be less afraid than the others and to the last fought with the disease.
Now the girl leads a normal life - she goes to school, plays, which her family is very happy about.