Scientists reprogram cancer cells to fight back against leukemia

This early-stage study is testing whether it's safe to take a patient's own leukemia cells, modify them in a lab to produce an immune-stimulating protein called IL-12, and then return them to the patient. The goal is to see if this approach can help control acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in patients whose cancer has returned or is likely to return, and who cannot receive a standard bone marrow transplant. Researchers will carefully monitor patients for side effects and track how long the modified cells remain active in the body.