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The highest mountain: T-cell technology

McIntosh, Bryan; Fascia, Michael

Authors

Bryan McIntosh



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