The 16-Year-Old Girl Who Defeated an «Incurable» Leukemia Through a Breakthrough Gene Therapy

In Alyssa’s treatment, researchers performed three distinct genetic edits on the donor T cells. These edits allowed the modified cells to be used universally, without the need for exact genetic matching between donor and patient. More importantly, the engineered cells were designed to eliminate all T cells in the patient’s body, both cancerous and healthy. Although this may sound dangerous, it was a carefully planned step toward rebuilding a healthier immune system.