Pioneering cancer treatment engineers immune systems to fight disease

Head and neck cancer patients undergo trial involving genetically modifying their white blood cells to recognise and attack the tumour

Patients with head and neck cancer are receiving a groundbreaking new treatment that involves prompting their immune systems to battle the disease.

The trial, at the National Institute for Health Research biomedical research centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS foundation trust and King's College London, involves genetically modifying patients' white blood cells so they recognise and attack the tumour.