A UK study revealed that genetically modified skin cells could be used to fight a cancer which attack children at a young age. Neuroblastoma is a cancer of specialised nerve cells, called neural crest cells. These cells are engaged in the development of the nervous system and other tissues. This type of tumour accounts for 15% of childhood cancer deaths mostly under-fives. Scientists at UCL said they were able to stimulate the immune system of mice by injecting the animals' skin cells into a neuroblastoma tumour. When they were injected into the tumour site, these cells apparently helped the mouse fight the cancer - with a treated mouse living 90 days or more than an untreated mouse.

This study in mice adds to the growing body of evidence that kick-starting the immune system can work successfully against neuroblastoma.
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