iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Australian researchers have developed a ground-breaking treatment for deadly childhood cancer using engineered immune cells.
The research, led by a team from the University of Queensland (UQ), focuses on a new therapeutic strategy for paediatric sarcomas, a type of cancer that affects bones and soft tissues, such as muscles, fat, and blood vessels.
Sarcomas account for 5-10% of all childhood cancers, yet they are responsible for more deaths than brain cancer, skin cancer, leukaemia, and lymphoma. These tumours tend to grow aggressively and spread rapidly, making them difficult to treat.
The new treatment uses “killer cells” — immune cells that have been engineered to recognize and attack sarcoma tumors. Wayne Nicholls, a co-author of the study from UQ’s Ian Frazer Centre for Children’s Immunotherapy Research, highlighted that sarcomas are the leading cause of death among people aged 10-30, and there has been no significant improvement in survival rates for the past 40 years.
Nicholls emphasized the lack of novel therapies for paediatric solid tumours, making this development a significant step forward. “This is a significant step forward towards a novel therapy that could be used for patients,” he said.
Fernando Guimaraes, Associate Professor at UQ’s Frazer Institute, noted that the breakthrough offers new hope, especially given the limited treatment options available for these cancers. “We really haven’t had any new treatments in the past four decades,” he said.
The research could also have implications for other hard-to-treat diseases, such as triple-negative breast cancer. The study was published in Clinical and Translational Medicine.
(Photo courtesy: IANS)
