Doctors at the University of Miami have claimed a breakthrough in cancer treatment, using the immune system to attack small, metastatic tumors. After surgical tumor removal, metastasis of small tumors can become lethal for the patient. While large tumors can be identified and treated (with surgical removal or radiation), small tumors are difficult to identify, especially if they spread to unknown or inaccessible areas of the body. These small tumors are unaffected by the body's immune system because they lack the antigens needed to initiate an immune response. Dr.Eli Gilboa and his UM team are researching DNA and RNA manipulation to induce expression and production of antigens on cancerous tumors. This research is currently being conducted in rat trials, and will require much more extensive time and research for human treatment. A particular challenge is the observation of immune tolerance to tumor antigens.
Article sources: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/18/1634230/um-developing-potent-weapon-against.html#Comments_Container
Image source: http://repairstemcell.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/breast-cancer-cell2.jpg
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