Cellular immunotherapy : from stem cell to lymphocyte

To reduce the mortality rate in cancer patients who undergo stem cell transplantation, a study was conducted on the development of cellular immunotherapy using immature T-cells to strengthen the immune system after treatment. A clinically applicable system was developed for producing these cells from stem cells. It was found that vitamin C significantly improved production and brought about greater cell yield for therapeutic purposes. It was also found that patients with haematological malignancy (i.e. certain forms of cancer, including leukaemia) had lower vitamin C levels. Administering vitamin C may therefore promote immune recovery