Guest guest Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Some types of lymphomas do respond to antibiotics. But yes you are right the trial tests the hypothesis that early cases of CLL might be driven by an infective agent. In a message dated 20/05/2011 23:11:56 GMT Daylight Time, Nick writes: CLEAR: CLL Empirical Antibiotic Regimen - A phase II trial of broad spectrum antibiotic therapy for early stage, non- progressive chronic lymphocytic leukaemia without adverse prognostic factors This phase II trial is testing the use of antibiotics for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who have received no prior treatment. Patients will receive a short but intensive course of antibiotics, to help control the symptoms of their disease, early on. This national trial is being run by Dr Devereux at King's College London. Does anyone have any links to studies or research documents explaining the rationale? Or other studies/trials in this area that have been carried out. My limited understanding is that the trial is effectively investigating if infection drives CLL progression during the earlier stages of the disease?.. Nick (UK) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I still believe that Epstein-Barr virus is involved... (infectious mononucleosis) It certainly is a contender... It is implicated in Richter's Transformation and Burkitt's lymphomas and Hodgkin's ~chris <snipped> > My limited understanding is that the trial is effectively > investigating if infection drives CLL progression during the > earlier stages of the disease?.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 If EBV is involved in the pathogenesis of CLL, this trial would do very little to control it. They plan to use a mix of antibiotics. And antibiotics do not work on viral infections - such as EBV infection or reactivation. > > I still believe that Epstein-Barr virus is involved... > (infectious mononucleosis) > > It certainly is a contender... > > It is implicated in Richter's Transformation and > Burkitt's lymphomas and Hodgkin's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 But only in a small percentage of Richter's and Hodgkin's and not all Burkitt's In a message dated 21/05/2011 writes: I still believe that Epstein-Barr virus is involved... (infectious mononucleosis) It certainly is a contender... It is implicated in Richter's Transformation and Burkitt's lymphomas and Hodgkin's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 Thanks all for your input, Larry your point raises a question for me; that the anti biotics only protect against bacterial pathogens? Is response to these infections the action that the trial is attempting to shut down. Thus simulating the same effect that could be studied with use of anti virals. As we don't have effective broad spectrum anti virals, could this be why the trial only uses antibiotics. Or am I barking up the wrong tree? Could this study also provide relevant information that may assist in adding a suitable antibiotic alternative to IvIg in the future, that is more cost effective. Or are we still awaiting development of the antibiotic alternative? > If EBV is involved in the pathogenesis of CLL, this trial > would do very little to control it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the surface Ig on CLL cells often reacts with common bacterial antigens. In a message dated 21/05/2011 Nick writes: Larry your point raises a question for me; that the anti biotics only protect against bacterial pathogens? Is response to these infections the action that the trial is attempting to shut down. Thus simulating the same effect that could be studied with use of anti virals. As we don't have effective broad spectrum anti virals, could this be why the trial only uses antibiotics. Or am I barking up the wrong tree? Could this study also provide relevant information that may assist in adding a suitable antibiotic alternative to IvIg in the future, that is more cost effective. Or are we still awaiting development of the antibiotic alternative? > If EBV is involved in the pathogenesis of CLL, this trial > would do very little to control it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 I'm aware that antibiotics don't work on viruses... I was referring to EBV as a possible cause in a larger context than the clinical trial mentioned. ~chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 Thank you Dr Hamblin. I see, so removing any chance of this reaction, may effect CLL symptoms? Regards Nick > Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the > surface Ig on CLL cells often reacts with common bacterial > antigens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 It seems a cheap trial that might help to understand how CLL starts. In a message dated 21/05/2011 Nick writes: I see, so removing any chance of this reaction, may effect CLL symptoms? > Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the > surface Ig on CLL cells often reacts with common bacterial > antigens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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