Wiltshire breast cancer survivor hails ‘exciting’ research findings

Scientists have discovered cells that can hunt cancer in the body

A Wiltshire woman who survived breast cancer has welcomed new research which could transform the way the disease is treated.

Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research London (ICR) have discovered that some immune cells can hunt cancer in the body, opening up the possibility of personalized treatments for advanced breast cancer.

Their study found that immune B cells have characteristics that make them able to target tumors, including when the cancer has spread throughout the body.

They have created a tool that allows these anti-cancer cells to be identified, meaning that personal immunotherapies could be improved.

Immunotherapy uses one’s own immune system to fight cancer and works by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Dr Stephen-John Sammut, first author of the study and leader of the Cancer Dynamics Group at the Institute of Cancer Research London (ICR), said: “Once cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is often much more difficult to treat. .

“Our research has shown that the immune response to cancer is not limited to where a tumor first appears – if an immune B cell succeeds in detecting cancer in one part of the body, it will look for similar cancer cells elsewhere. the body.”

‘Game changer’ discovery, Salisbury survivor says

Christine Taylor from Salisbury has battled cancer for more than 20 years and says the research could be a game changer.

She told Greatest Hits Radio: “I think teaching your body how to hunt it and any other rogue cells that might be around you, it’s going to be very focused and very targeted is really exciting research.”

Christine, who now volunteers at Cancer Support Salisbury, said her treatment, which included surgery and chemotherapy, was “exhausting”.

“It was kind of a full-body experience, which meant the after-effects were pretty awful.

“And if I’m being very honest and I felt more, I’m going to go through the treatment than I actually did for the cancer because I was almost unaware of the cancer at the time,” she said.

She hopes the improved treatments will lead to a reduction in treatment time, as well as make it a slightly friendlier experience.

Christine had her cancer come back a few times, but she was able to overcome them. However, she said that this special treatment would help her.

And they hope it could help lead to new treatments for other cancers and diseases.

“Once you start running, it definitely opens the door to thinking about other diseases.

“If your own body is able to train itself to track things down and actually attack it, why not?” she said.

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