http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/13gene.html?pagewanted=all
An insurmountable fight that was discovered as a part of an experiment at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the eight Ivy League schools, were doctors who accidentally cured a man of leukemia. Mr. Ludwig, a corrections officer suffering from a sever form of Leukemia was sure he would die and would have nothing to lose for. He volunteered to partake in a experiment which meant removing masses among masses of T and B cells which were then to be genetically modified and placed back into his body yearning unexpected results. Withing 10 days of the experiment, Mr. William Ludwig felt symptoms that are as they can get, body temperatures skyrocketing, cold chills, and lower blood pressures, he was sure to die. Little did he know that his body was used a the battlefield that would shape the way for the next Civil War. His genetically modified immune cells successfully eliminated traces of cancer; I do not say “all” simply because cancer is known to be extremely resilient hiding in the utmost corners of human tissue known to existence. Ludwig’s doctors have confirmed that his new cells have killed 2 and a half pounds of cancer. Considering how small cells are, you can imagine how much cancer cells live in two pounds of tissue. Though Ludwig can assume most normal responsibilities , his doctors aren’t the most optimistic. They do not claim that Mr. Ludwig is cleared of his cancer, and that they cannot point to the conclusion that his leukemia is permanently cured. Take in note that this was an covert experiment, its secrets not given to the public due to the tale of anecdotal evidence. Essentially this experiment is considered as holistic because it involves the usage of HIV^-1, a virus modified to fight cancer cells, instead of our immune system. The main premise of the experiment is to recognize that cancer cells are, in fact, foreign and are undergoing uncontrolled, unregulated mitosis. Currently, this treatment is only effective for Leukemia because leukemia involves the infection of B-Cells, not T-Cells. By injecting HIV^-1 into T-Cells, we are basically telling our body to attack itself; Genetically modified T-Cells fighting cancerous B-Cells. A major problem with the treatment is that the HIV^-1 infused T-Cells with kill both healthy and cancerous B-Cells as long as the T-Cells exist. To think about it in another way, we saved ourselves, ironically, by completely getting rid of our B-Cells, a major component of our immune system. Though the experiment was a success for Mr. Ludwig, it may not be so for everyone else. This is a step up in medicinal advancements, but one that isn’t a “guarantee”, but rather a risk vs reward.
