Engineered cells beat cancer in human test | Chicago Tribune:
In a small study of patients with terminal skin cancer, Maryland scientists have demonstrated for the first time that genetically engineered immune cells can kill off large tumors.
The research, conducted by a team at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, remains highly experimental, and it worked on just two of the 17 patients in the study.
But excited government scientists said it is the first time gene therapy has vanquished an advanced cancer. More important, the technique could serve as a potent new assault weapon against breast, lung and other, more common cancers, researchers said.