Leukemia cure with re-directed T cells. Breakthrough "exceeds our wildest expectations".

A genetic re-jig of T cells lets them beat leukemia. T cells are the white blood cells which serve as the body's soldiers.  After equipping them to penetrate cancer defenses, the cells were also engineered to reproduce a thousand-fold faster, turning them into "serial killers" tracking down leukemia cancer.   Three patients got the treatment.  One is 70% better and the other two cured.  Five pounds of cancerous tissue melted away in a few weeks.    Popular summary at MSNBC and original report in this month's New England Journal of Medicine here.  Wow.

Illustrating a white blood cell (T type) on the right,
a platelet in the middle and a
red blood cell on the left.