Taking the Terror out of Cancer: This is what researchers worldwide want to do by developing new therapies. A form of treatment promises a lot of success.
- It has been approved in Germany for over a year: CAR-T cell therapy.
- This type of gene therapy can successfully treat blood cancer that is difficult to treat.
- It could also be used for other types of cancer in the future. The catch: CAR-T cell therapy is very expensive - and even bad side effects are possible.
Update from May 25th, 2020: Blood cancer is curable - stem cell donation saves lives
Every year, more than 917,000 people worldwide develop blood cancer. With the worldwide action day "Blood Cancer Day" on May 28th, the DKMS German Bone Marrow Donor File calls for solidarity with the patients. "We would like to set an example for the global fight against blood cancer. We encourage everyone to do the same," says DKMS managing director Sandra Bothur. Blood cancer is curable, many patients can be given a chance of life by donating stem cells - registration is the first step.
More information about stem cell donation can be found here
CAR T cell therapy: Modified T cells track down cancer cells
Tisagenlecleucel and Axicabtagen Ciloleucel are the two active substances that were approved in Europe in August 2018 for cancer therapy for certain types of blood cancer. They use an artificial antigen receptor that changes the T cells of blood cancer patients . The T cells in the body have the task of recognizing and fighting defective body cells - with the artificial antigen receptor that the drugs infiltrate into them, they can detect and kill malignant cancer cells. This is not possible for normal, non-genetically modified T cells because cancer cells can hide from them through their mutation.
Read also on the topic: Cancer patients forget formalities shortly before their death - health insurance now wants money from the son
Video: Fighting Cancer - The solution is in our cells
Studies showed that two years after CAR-T cell therapy with Tisagenlecleucel or Axicab days Ciloleucel, 40 to 60 percent of the patients still lived without a relapse. Good news against the background that blood cancer is associated with a high relapse rate .
More on the topic : Everyday drug kills cancer cells - how new study could revolutionize therapy .
15 qualified university clinics carry out gene therapy in Germany
Around 15 German university clinics are currently qualified to carry out CAR T cell therapy. So far, there is no official list of already certified centers. The contact persons are the treating oncologists or the manufacturer of the corresponding CAR-T cell product, as reported by the cancer information service.
CAR-T cell treatment costs around 320,000 euros. Contract negotiations with the statutory health insurance companies are still ongoing. Cancer centers currently have to submit an individual application for reimbursement of costs to the statutory health insurers ; the therapy is not part of the national care as in Great Britain.
Work is also underway to improve CAR-T cell therapy to curb serious side effects such as pathological changes in the speech center in the brain, confusion or tumor lysis syndrome, which can even lead to death.
Only the treating physician can decide whether CAR-T cell therapy is suitable for cancer patients. These will weigh up opportunities and risks and initiate appropriate treatment.
Your opinion is asked
Also read : Beagles detect lung cancer: new dog study shows incredible.
jg
Warning: these four pathogens can cause cancer
To the photo gallery
It is about corruption and fraud in the millions with cancer drugs. 420 police officers are on duty to ensure evidence.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/IGZ7GOCXZ5GUPAQ2HWGK6Z76BU.jpg)