When caught early, melanomas can be easily treated by surgically removing the cancerous patch of skin. But once it has spread, basically nothing works.
But recently, a new option has emerged: helping the body’s immune system. Scientists focused on specific helper T cells of the body’s own immune system to lock onto the cancer cell and guide killer cells to their cancer target.
Blood is drawn from the patient, from which the special helper cells are isolated and multiplied in the laboratory. The cells are then infused back into the patient with no need for chemotherapy or other harsh drugs.
Dr. Louis Weiner, director of the cancer center at Georgetown University, stresses: "It's a simpler and less toxic approach to melanoma than had been previously employed."
It is the hope of the scientists and researchers that the treatment spurred the patient's immune system to expand its cancer-fighting ability in new ways.
One patient was successfully cured from their melanoma cancer with this new methodology without any harmful side effects.
However, these findings are at an early stage and the experiments have yet to yield a consistent therapy.
About 62,000 news cases of melanomas are diagnosed in the United States each year, causing about 8,000 melanoma deaths.
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Labels: Best Skin Protection Sun Screens, Melanoma, Skin Cancer, skin care newsletter
