Senator Ted Kennedy (2009) and his friend Senator John McCain (2018) died on the same date from glioblastoma, which accounts for almost half of malignant brain tumors and affects men more than women, at an average age of 64. Survival in year two after diagnosis is only 17%.

That's why the recent breakthrough treatment developed at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston is so exciting. Using gene engineering, scientists took living human cancer cells and redesigned them to release a cancer cell-killing agent, and they made it easier for the immune system to spot cancerous cells and knock them out.

The study, which was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, explains that this works because the altered living cancer cells are like homing pigeons flocking to their fellow cancer cells — wherever they're lurking.

Once there, these weaponized versions kill the cancer cells without damaging any other tissue.

Clinicaltrials.gov lists dozens of studies recruiting participants to test various approaches to treat glioblastoma, but as of this writing there's not one for testing this dual-acting, genetically engineered concept on humans.

Nonetheless, the era of effective anticancer vaccines is approaching. We already have treatments to prevent cancer related to HPV and to treat metastatic prostate cancer and early-stage bladder cancer. And there are ongoing trials for breast cancer vaccines.

It's one more reason to feel optimistic about your ability, in the near future, to enjoy a Great Age Reboot and feel 40 at age 90.