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Scientists in California have worked out a way to make a patient's immune cells attack cancer tumours. A paper published in the science journal Nature, describes how the process involves genetically sequencing each patients blood cells to reinforce the body's own battle against cancer. The experimental study involved only 16 patients, but has been called a "leap forward" and a "powerful" demonstration of the potential of such technology. Each person had a treatment developed just for them, which targeted the specific weak spots in their tumour. It is too early to fully assess the therapy's effectiveness and is expensive and time-consuming. But could this be a therapy commonly used in the future? Scott Garland, CEO of PACT Pharma, which helped to develop and manufacture the process, spoke to Newsday. He says, "I think we have an opportunity here, to take a patient's immune cells, re-programme them, and put them back, and treat pretty much any cancer." (Photo: Test tubes containing blood in a lab. Credit: Getty Images)
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