These are called Car-T-Cells, cells taken from a cancer patient, genetically modified and then re-implanted, becoming cancer cell killers. This method, which favors immunotherapy over chemotherapy, is being tested in 10 university hospitals in France, including that of Caen.
Until recently this patient could not have been saved. Jean Jacques has a lymphoma on the intestine. After two chemotherapies and a relapse, he is one of the first French people to benefit from this innovative treatment.
This is the greatest chance I have is freedom from pain and resuming a normal life.
Jean-Jacques Blanchard, patient
Called Car-T-cells, the technique used is revolutionary. “It is in fact the patient’s own cells that we will transform thanks to gene therapy and that we will arm against a cancerous cell.“explains Hyacinthe Johnson, project manager at Caen University Hospital, “Once reinjected into the patient’s blood…these modified cells will multiply and recognize the cancer.” They come back a little more armed, like little soldiers. Cost of the operation more than 300,000 euros per patient but also some inconvenience because the white blood cells become fighters of the disease destroy the passage of healthy cells. Patients may, for example, experience a drop in blood pressure. Rare are the patients who do not develop any side effects. But these, although impressive, remain temporary, assure the doctors.