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THREAD. Just over 4 years ago, I sat in a pub with some @CR_UK colleagues, all staring at our phones, waiting to see if a research story we'd worked on would get picked up by the media. At 6pm, the embargo lifted, and the story made headlines around the world. /1
The research was fascinating. @CharlesSwanton, @squezadd, and their @CR_UK-funded teams at @uclcancer and @TheCrick had found that tumours could contain specific immune cells, which had the potential - and it was only potential, at that stage - to be turned against them. /2
Yes, it was early stage research. But the science was compelling, and cutting-edge. @AlanWorsley1 wrote this great summary of it, and @jeroen_claus made a brilliant animation to go with it, which made it onto the telly.
https://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2016/03/03/new-immunotherapy-discovery-could-give-treatments-the-precision-they-need/ /3
https://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2016/03/03/new-immunotherapy-discovery-could-give-treatments-the-precision-they-need/ /3
There were, at the time, a few eyebrows raised. This was hypothetical, early stage, laboratory research. Were we right to lean so hard into the story? Shouldn't we have at least waited until there was some clinical data to share? Were we raising false hope? All fair points. /4
It's been a long 4 years since then. Charlie, Sergio and co - with a lot of help from others, including @CRUKresearch - worked hard to set up a spin-out company, @achillestx, and set about trying to turn the science into something that could help people with cancer. /5
This week, @achillestx announced a huge milestone. As part of a phase I/II trial, a patient with non-small cell lung cancer was treated became the first to be treated with 'clonal neoantigen-targeted' T-cells, at @uclh. https://achillestx.com/achilles-therapeutics-doses-first-patient-in-phase-i-ii-study-in-advanced-non-small-cell-lung-cancer/ /6
Given the wider context - the technical hurdles, the hard work, not to mention the impact of COVID-19 - to do this in four years, and do it now, is remarkable. I have everything crossed for that individual, and that this treatment can fulfill its potential. 
/7
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So who knows what will happen next. Most therapies fail at the first hurdle. This is just one of scores of similar approaches. Science - particularly biology - is adept at throwing spanners into the best laid out plans. This is just the end of the beginning of this story. /8
But, let's at least reflect on the fact that, when the cautious quote at the end of a media story proclaims "this is early-stage research, and there's a long way to go before it benefits patients...", well, this is what that 'long way' looks like. Congrats guys. Onwards. /ENDS
Oh and PS - when you donate to support cancer research, this is what your donation can help achieve. Charities like @CR_UK have been battered by the pandemic, and need your help. Let me make it easy for you: https://donation.cancerresearchuk.org/my-donation/
