Genetically modified white blood cells hold great therapeutic potential, say researchers.
As developments in personalized medicine continue, taking one’s own cells and enhancing them is being increasingly pursued. Recently, a pilot study funded by the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care took a closer look at boosting the immunological power of white blood cells. The new study, conducted in partnership with New York Blood Center (NYBC), successfully demonstrated that white blood cells can be removed, genetically modified and reinserted into cancer patients.
According to Montefiore, it is seeking to duplicate its findings and looking to enrolling more patients. Eligibility to participate in the trial is framed by highly specific criteria. For the treatment to be effective, a heredity marker must be obtained (found in 20% of Montefiore’s patient population), followed by a biopsy to see if the tumor expresses the NY ESO-1 protein (found in 30% of all solid tumors). Participants must also have advanced metastatic cancer that has failed to respond to standard therapy.
New York Blood Center is playing a critical role in the research effort. Amanda Marchiando, a Cellular Therapy & Regenerative Medicine Scientist at NYBC explained, "We isolate a person's blood cells and grow them in the lab with a virus that inserts new DNA into the blood cells. This reprograms the cells to recognize the NY ESO-1 protein on a patient's tumors and attack it."
Once new cells are created, NYBC prepares patients for the cell transfer via infusion. The procedure is preceded by a week of chemotherapy to wipe out remaining white blood cells. The “clean slate,” said NYBC, lets the new and improved cells become the first responders to attack the cancer. The infusion, which takes about 20 minutes to administer, is combined with immunotherapy to make the therapy even more effective.