A protein which 'turbo-charges' the immune system so that it can fight off any cancer or virus has been discovered by scientists.
In a breakthrough described as a 'game-changer' for cancer treatment, researchers at Imperial College found a previously unknown molecule which boosts the body's ability to fight off chronic illnesses.
Scientists at Imperial College London, who led the study, are now developing a gene therapy based on the protein and hope to begin human trials in three years.
"This is exciting because we have found a completely different way to use the immune system to fight cancer," said Professor Philip Ashton-Rickardt, from the Section of Immunobiology in the Department of Medicine at Imperial, who led the study.
"It could be a game-changer for treating a number of different cancers and viruses.
"This is a completely unknown protein. Nobody had ever seen it before or was even aware that it existed. It looks and acts like no other protein."
The protein – named lymphocyte expansion molecule, or LEM, promotes the spread of cancer killing 'T cells' by generating large amounts of energy.
Normally when the immune system detects cancer it goes into overdrive trying to fight the disease, flooding the body with T cells. But it quickly runs out of steam.
More....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11542544/Scientists-find-key-to-turbo-charging-immune-system-to-kill-all-cancers.html

Quote from: Solar on April 16, 2015, 08:22:37 PM
A protein which 'turbo-charges' the immune system so that it can fight off any cancer or virus has been discovered by scientists.
In a breakthrough described as a 'game-changer' for cancer treatment, researchers at Imperial College found a previously unknown molecule which boosts the body's ability to fight off chronic illnesses.
Scientists at Imperial College London, who led the study, are now developing a gene therapy based on the protein and hope to begin human trials in three years.
"This is exciting because we have found a completely different way to use the immune system to fight cancer," said Professor Philip Ashton-Rickardt, from the Section of Immunobiology in the Department of Medicine at Imperial, who led the study.
"It could be a game-changer for treating a number of different cancers and viruses.
"This is a completely unknown protein. Nobody had ever seen it before or was even aware that it existed. It looks and acts like no other protein."
The protein – named lymphocyte expansion molecule, or LEM, promotes the spread of cancer killing 'T cells' by generating large amounts of energy.
Normally when the immune system detects cancer it goes into overdrive trying to fight the disease, flooding the body with T cells. But it quickly runs out of steam.
More....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11542544/Scientists-find-key-to-turbo-charging-immune-system-to-kill-all-cancers.html

  I my see it in my life time then.     

Hopefully someone will find THE cure.  There always seems to be a cure posted but then the "may" word gets tossed around.  I wish someone could end the debate once and for all.