This is a great article that provides more details about the recent breakthrough in gene therapy -- specifically modified T-cells that have been re-engineered to fight CLL.
The trial was a Phase 1 study, meaning that its main goal was to find out whether the treatment was safe, and at what dose. Of course, doctors and patients always hope that there will be some benefit, but that was not an official endpoint.Mr. Ludwig thought that if the trial could buy him six months or a year, it would be worth the gamble. But even if the study did not help him, he felt it would still be worthwhile if he could help the study.
When the fevers hit, he had no idea that might be a good sign. Instead, he assumed the treatment was not working. But a few weeks later, he said that his oncologist, Dr. Alison Loren, told him, "We can't find any cancer in your bone marrow."
Remembering the moment, Mr. Ludwig paused and said, "I got goose bumps just telling you those words."
Obviously way too early to tell how effective this might be, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.
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