China extends life of cancer patients almost twice as long with new therapy

Chinese scientists from Peking University Cancer Center and other scientific institutions have developed a new immunotherapy that significantly extends the life of cancer patients. The study was published in the scientific journal The Lancet.

The method, called CAR-T, uses genetically modified immune cells to fight solid (solid) cancerous tumors. According to a world-first randomized trial, patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GER) cancers who received this therapy lived an average of 40% longer compared to those who received standard treatment. Those who received CAR-T therapy lived an average of 7.9 months versus 5.5 months with standard treatment. They also experienced longer remission, 3.3 months versus 1.8 months.

CAR-T therapy has already proven effective against blood cancers, but now scientists have confirmed its potential against solid tumors, which account for about 90% of all cancers, including breast, lung and pancreatic cancer. Another experiment showed that CAR-T cells may be effective against glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. Preliminary data shows a reduction in tumor size and an increase in patient survival.

According to experts, CAR-T therapy could fundamentally change the approach to cancer treatment, offering hope to patients with previously incurable forms of cancer.

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