Giant leap for mankind: a new treatment for blood cancers
Leukemia or blood cancer hinders the body’s ability to fight off infections. There are several types of Leukemia: acute lymphoblastic, acute myeloid, and chronic lymphocytic and there are fewer than 200,000 cases per year, however it claims the lives of many every year as well.
However, due to a new revolutionary therapy, this may no longer be the case. Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital were able to create a new living drug using base editing.
What is base editing? Base editing is essentially gene engineering. This can introduce precise edits to correct disease causing transition mutations. “Base editing allows scientists to zoom to a precise part of the genetic code and then alter the molecular structure of just one base,” according to BBC.
Also, according to BBC: They used this new technology to cure Alyssa, a teenager suffering from this disease. They first disabled the T-Cells, which help fight cancer. They do this to stop these cells from attacking the body. The second base edit they remove the CD7, which is a protein on the T-Cells. The third edit, is a cloak that prevents the cells from dying to the chemo drug. Finally, the last stage instructs the T-Cells to go hunting for anything with the CD7 mark on it so it would destroy every T-Cell in her body, including the cancerous cells.
Due to the extensive research of scientists all around the world, society is taking a step in the right direction. Society is now able to fight off one of the deadliest diseases that claims the lives of many. Now, the future’s looking brighter.
Shauna George is a senior, and this is her third year on the Paw Print staff. Some of her hobbies include reading, playing video games, travelling,...
