Galway oncologist leads cancer breakthrough

A Galway consultant oncologist is leading a clinical trial in the world’s top cancer hospital which has the potential to change the way tumours are treated.

Although Róisín Ó Cearbhaill, has only treated one ovarian cancer patient with T cell therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, news of the trial has excited the medical world, receiving extensive coverage in respected industry publications.

T cell therapy has been used in trials to treat blood cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma, with some patients surviving five years post trial. Solid tumours are far more common than blood cancers and if they spread – or metastasize – can be very difficult to treat.

“This is a very high risk strategy but the hope is that there is a high yield as well. If you can identify a target or marker for each person’s cancer, then this treatment could potentially be used for all types of cancers,” explained the medic from Knocknacarra in the city.

The trial aims to modify a patient’s own T cells, which are the workhorses of the body’s immune system, fighting off infection or viruses.

These genetically modified T cells – called CARs (chimeric antigen receptors) – have been engineered to recognise a marker on ovarian cancer cells and then attack them once infused back in the body.

In the case of ovarian cancer, that marker is MUC16ecto, which is evident in up to 80% of the most common type of ovarian cancer. It is the first time that MUC16ecto has been targeted.

However Róisín cautioned: “This technology has had amazing results in blood cancers like leukaemia but it’s a totally different challenge for ovarian cancer.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.