U Penn research results, awesome!

[Guest guest]

Dear fellow CLLers

Been lots of buzz in the media and in our lists with this exciting news from

Philadelphia, my med school alma mater even, this small study of gene therapy

induced killer T cells directed toward CLL B cells, with a seeming remission.

I toolk the trouble to upload my copies of the article and accompanying

editorial to a file on my web site if any science or medical people want to dig

into it. (and don't have access otherwise). If you have no science background

prepare for some difficulty if you try to read. ;-) [hey at least it's not

string theory..]

These are at

http://www.springgardeninn.net/leukemia/Porter_2011.pdf (NEJM)

and

http://www.springgardeninn.net/leukemia/Urbo_edit.pdf

and

http://www.springgardeninn.net/leukemia/Kalos_2011.pdf (Science Translation)

Enjoy.

I myself am gong to get a second opinion on where I am headed with the U Penn

group, half hoping to get into a trial like this down the line, if needed

(I currently go to group at Drexel/Hahnemann for reasons of proximity to my

office, and comfort with a smaller group)

I may need treatment again soon as WBC slowly increasing and have nodes.also on

the increase. That said I feel great, continue to train for half marathon as a

fundraiser for LLS with Team in Training...

F. Wayne van Saun, MD

Retired pediatrician, age 61, now work in online medical education in

Philadelphia

Dx CLL 10/97, Tx X3 Fludara, Fludara/Rituxan, and Rituxan about every 2-3 years

since 2004. Most recent counts normal but have converted to more of a small

lymphocytic lymphoma, finished FR to Rituxan alone last May, as Fludarabine

tends to wipe out my neutrophils and had a bout of febrile neutropenia along

with tick-borne anaplasmosis (not fun). Now back to watch-and-worry, WBC may be

starting to climb, contemplating a clinical trial with Revlimid

[Guest guest]

Yes, hear that Kanti Rai is enthused.  That said, it's way too early since

only, what, three patients were treated, and 33% of them (one) had what seems

like only a partial remission.  For me to be thrilled, it has to be 100%

molecular remission, since if it doesn't help me (heavily pretreated), then I'm,

well, less than enthusiastic. 

Keep our fingers crossed, and say a prayer.  Perhaps this will be a major

advance.  Perhaps not. 

________________________________

From: " wvansaun@... " <wvansaun@...>

CLL Research < >

Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 1:29 PM

Subject: U Penn research results, awesome!

 

Dear fellow CLLers

Been lots of buzz in the media and in our lists with this exciting news from

Philadelphia, my med school alma mater even, this small study of gene therapy

induced killer T cells directed toward CLL B cells, with a seeming remission.

I toolk the trouble to upload my copies of the article and accompanying

editorial to a file on my web site if any science or medical people want to dig

into it. (and don't have access otherwise). If you have no science background

prepare for some difficulty if you try to read. ;-) [hey at least it's not

string theory..]

These are at

http://www.springgardeninn.net/leukemia/Porter_2011.pdf (NEJM)

and

http://www.springgardeninn.net/leukemia/Urbo_edit.pdf

and

http://www.springgardeninn.net/leukemia/Kalos_2011.pdf (Science Translation)

Enjoy.

I myself am gong to get a second opinion on where I am headed with the U Penn

group, half hoping to get into a trial like this down the line, if needed

(I currently go to group at Drexel/Hahnemann for reasons of proximity to my

office, and comfort with a smaller group)

I may need treatment again soon as WBC slowly increasing and have nodes.also on

the increase. That said I feel great, continue to train for half marathon as a

fundraiser for LLS with Team in Training...

F. Wayne van Saun, MD

Retired pediatrician, age 61, now work in online medical education in

Philadelphia

Dx CLL 10/97, Tx X3 Fludara, Fludara/Rituxan, and Rituxan about every 2-3 years

since 2004. Most recent counts normal but have converted to more of a small

lymphocytic lymphoma, finished FR to Rituxan alone last May, as Fludarabine

tends to wipe out my neutrophils and had a bout of febrile neutropenia along

with tick-borne anaplasmosis (not fun). Now back to watch-and-worry, WBC may be

starting to climb, contemplating a clinical trial with Revlimid