Granulocytes: Most people never think of granulocytes unless they are having chemotherapy and their ‘granulocyte counts’ decrease. Granulocytes are 3 different types of white blood cells, which are used by our bodies to fight off infection.
Now scientists are finding a new role for granulocytes in the war on cancer. We all fight off cancer cells, probably every day of our life. But apparently, some people have the ability to fight off cancer cells better than others. They may be cancer-resistant.
To test this assumption, granulocytes from those considered ‘cancer-resistant’ were injected into cervical cancer cells. Within 24 hours, 97% of the cancer cells were dead, versus 2% kill from non-resistant cancer granulocytes.
Average cancer-killing ability appeared to be lower in the following cases:
• Adults over the age of 50
• People with cancer. It also fell when
• People who are stressed, and
• Certain times of the year (for instance, no one seems to have cancer-killing ability during the winter months from November to April).
Principal investigators feel they are ready to start studying the use of granulocytes taken from one and given to another who has cancer. The use of transfusing granulocytes to cancer patients is currently being done to ‘buoy-up’ immune systems; but not to fight cancer. Currently, FDA approval is being sought. Hopefully, clinical trials can begin by next summer when cancer killing ability of granulocytes are at their peak.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States, May 2006
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