A treatment first developed to fight cancer is now being used in a clinical trial at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine to treat lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 1. 5 million Americans.

Lupus is a lifelong autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues, which can lead to inflammation and organ damage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease is difficult to diagnose due to its many signs and symptoms.