[neverdem]

The technique employs a disabled form of HIV because it is very good at carrying genetic material into T-cells. The new genes program the T-cells to attack B-cells, a normal part of the immune system that turns malignant in leukemia.

The Globe and Mail reposted this NY Times story. I wanted to know how they disabled HIV. HIV and CD-19 and leukemia got nothing at PubMed.

Attenuated HIV and disabled HIV was just as useless as an effective search strategy.

[Smokin' Joe]

Ultimately, the modified T-cell treatment eradicated large amounts of tumors in these patients, as well as normal B cells used by the body's immune system to fight infection. Patients were given regular gamma globulin treatments as a preventive measure.

Ohhhh kay.

If the immune system is wiped out by the modified T-cells, doesn't that leave the patient with an acquired immunodeficiency?

How is that addressed over the long term?

Or have they just not got that far...

[redgolum]

Hmm...

Something smells bad.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the linked article:

**************************************EXCERPT*****************************************

A major drug company, Novartis, is betting on the Pennsylvania team and has committed $20-million to building a research centre on the university’s campus to bring the treatment to market.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Here is the snippet I am looking for.....

************************************EXCERPT******************************************

Researchers say the same approach, reprogramming the patient’s immune system, may also be used eventually against tumours like breast and prostate cancer.