蜜芽传媒

Scientists have developed 'cancer killing cells' - genetically engineered outside the body - which can find and destroy malignant tumours.

The researchers at McMaster University say the killer cells are based on T-cell technology, but are designed to attack only cancer cells and not healthy ones. This means it could be used on 'solid body' tumours as well as blood tumours.

The lead author is Ana Portillo from the university's Department of Medicine.

"The disadvantage of T-cells is that they are able to become highly activated against healthy cells... They don't have an off-switch to prevent them killing healthy cells. In blood cancers, if you get rid of your healthy immune cells in the blood you can reinfuse back immune cells to prevent that toxicity. But when you're targeting something like solid tumours, you can't necessarily give someone a new heart or lung."

(Photo: An illustration of a cancer cell. Credit: Getty Images)