The highest mountain: T-cell technology

McIntosh, Bryan; Fascia, Michael

Abstract

T-lymphocytes (T-cell) therapy offers a treatment for cancers. Developing this technology in the future provides the opportunity to revolutionise treatment and to make cancer a chronic condition. T-cells in themselves are a type of lymphocytes (itself a type of white blood cell) that play a central role in cell mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocytes, such as B-cells and natural killer cells (NK cells), by the presence of a T-cell receptor (TCR) on the cell surface. T-cells have the capacity to destroy diseased cells, but tumours present a considerable challenge that reduces their impact. As cancer cells are frequently ‘invisible’ to the immune system, and they create an environment that suppresses T-cell activity., genetic engineering of T-cells can be used therapeutically to overcome these challenges. T-cells can be taken from the blood of cancer patients and then modified to recognise and destroy cancer-specific antigens.

Citation

McIntosh, B., & Fascia, M. (2014). The highest mountain: T-cell technology. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 20(6), 281-285. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjhc.2014.20.6.281

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 6, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jun 24, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2018
• Journal: British Journal of Healthcare Management
• Print ISSN: 1358-0574
• Electronic ISSN: 1759-7382
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 281-285
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjhc.2014.20.6.281
• Keywords: Cancer, leukaemia, T-cells, immunosuppression
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1121377