For people suffering from cancer that does not respond to conventional treatment, a variety of immunotherapies are being developed, aimed at strengthening the immune system’s defences so that it can destroy cancer cells.
Immunotherapy is still not widely used in Québec for so-called “solid” cancers, which are characterized by organ tumours and constitute 90% of cases. The CHUM is opening a clinical study program on TIL therapy for people with advanced-stage solid tumours. The program is headed by Dr. Simon Turcotte.
“TIL therapy consists in obtaining immune system cells known as T lymphocytes from a patient. We multiply them in very large numbers and then transfuse them back into the patient as treatment. So, outside the body we do what does not happen spontaneously in the body when cancer spreads. We create a living, personalized anticancer product from each person’s own immune cells. This triggers an immune response capable of targeting and eliminating cancer cells throughout the body.”
— Dr Simon Turcotte
Your donations will help the CHUM develop less invasive and more effective immune-cell anticancer products and lead to a greater number of clinical studies of TIL therapy. More people suffering from cancer will have access to this new type of immunotherapy.