A new genetic treatment saves the life of a young bride to be
Video report by Rob Smith
A young bride-to-be from Liverpool is planning her big day, thanks to a remarkable genetic treatment for leukaemia which has saved her life.
Sophie Mulligan, who's 24, had exhausted every main treatment for the disease after being diagnosed in 2015.
That's until doctors at The Christie in Manchester offered her a cell therapy called CAR-T to train her immune system to fight leukaemia by itself.
A laboratory in the United States took a sample of her blood and extracted disease-fighting cells. Scientists genetically 'reprogrammed' those to find and destroy the cancer.The adapted cells were flown back to be reintroduced into her body.
Sophie started the pioneering treatment at the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic and is now well enough to start house hunting and planning her wedding.