Emailing: USATODAY.com - New drug may give O'Neal's story a happy ending.htm

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05/09/2001 - Updated 02:16 PM ET

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New drug may give O'Neal's story a happy ending

By Adele Slaughter, Spotlight Health

With medical adviser A. Shoop, M.D.

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/_photos/oneal.jpg>

AP file

O'Neal.

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

Actor O'Neal gained fame in the '70s in the movie Love Story, in which

he played the true love of a girl who develops acute leukemia. Now, 30 years

later, his own life has taken a tragic twist: O'Neal has been diagnosed with

chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

But O'Neal's story may have a happy ending, says a leading leukemia expert.

Research indicates that a new drug called Gleevec inhibits the growth of

cancerous cells without attacking the body's healthy cells. The Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly close to approving Gleevec, which

has generated very promising preliminary results in trial studies.

" There's a very good chance this drug could put Mr. O'Neal into remission, "

says Dr. Sawyers, professor and researcher at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer

Center. Sawyers emphasizes he is not treating the actor, who last week

revealed his illness.

Leukemia is a cancer associated with the body's white blood cells. It begins

in either the bone marrow or the lymphatic system, eventually spreading to

other organs. Leukemia can be chronic (slow growing), or acute (rapidly

growing).

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), one of the four major types of leukemia,

is the most rare and generally only affects adults. CML begins as a

slow-growing cancer and becomes acute in the later stages of the disease.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 4,700 Americans will be

diagnosed with CML this year. Statistically, approximately half of those

cases result in death.

But that may be about to change.

Leukemia basics

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif> Leukemia symptoms

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

.. Chronic fatigue

.. Fever of unknown origin

.. Frequent bacterial or viral infections

.. Weight loss not due to dieting or exercise

.. Headaches

.. Skin rash

.. Non-specific bone pain

.. Bruising easily

.. Bleeding from gums or nose

.. Blood in urine or stools

.. Enlarged lymph nodes and/or spleen

.. Abdominal fullness/bloat

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

About one out of every five people with chronic leukemia have no symptoms in

the early stages of the disease. Even more troublesome is the fact that the

manifesting symptoms of leukemia can be unclear, making early diagnosis

difficult. Patients may have some or all of a number of symptoms.

Doctors commonly diagnose leukemia through history, physical examination,

and repeated blood cell counts. Normal white blood cells are used to fight

infections in the body. Without the proper white cell count - about 6,000 to

10,000 - or with abnormal white cells, the immune system defenses are

weakened against bacteria and viruses. For a leukemia patient, a common cold

can be extremely debilitating or even fatal.

An individual with CML produces an abundance of " irregular " white blood

cells. Eventually, these proliferating white blood cells clog the

bloodstream with immature cells, crowding out the healthy cells in the bone

marrow and the blood becomes " goopy. "

Bone marrow tests, excisional lymph node biopsy, lumbar puncture as well as

X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound imaging tests may also help confirm a

diagnosis and define the stage of the condition.

Doctors recognize three stages of CML: the " chronic, " the " accelerated, " and

the end stage, referred to as " blast crisis. " During the chronic stage,

white blood cell counts peak, but generally patients have very few symptoms.

The chronic stage of CML can last up to five years. During the accelerated

stage of CML, blood cell counts skyrocket and symptoms abound. At the blast

crisis stage the patient's prognosis is grim. Generally, they live only

several months.

Experts agree that the abnormal gene that causes CML is acquired, not

inherited. However, it is not clear why the gene begins to mutate. The

American Cancer Society confirms that some risk factors for contracting

leukemia are smoking and increasing age.

Environmental factors can also play a role. For example, the survivors of

the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear blasts have a high incidence of CML.

There is also concern that very high-voltage power lines might cause

leukemia.

But most people who develop leukemia do not have any of the known risk

factors.

Miracle treatment

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif> For more information

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

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<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

.. American Cancer <http://www.cancer.org> Society

.. UCLA <http://cancer.mednet.ucla.edu/> Jonsson Cancer Center

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

" Biologically, CML is caused by a mutant protein that we have been studying

for a long time, " says Sawyers, who has studied CML for more than a decade.

" It involves an enzyme called tyrosine kinase, a class of enzyme which

cancers frequently create in the body. We thought that if we could find a

way to inhibit the growth of these enzymes we could fight this particular

mutant protein. "

The two standard treatment options for CML have been either a bone marrow

transplant, which has extreme limitations, or a daily injection of the drug

interferon. Both treatments are extremely taxing for patients.

" Interferon causes fevers and makes patients feel as if they have the flu.

It can also cause depression, " reports Sawyers. " While it can help, it

severely diminishes the patient's quality of life. "

But now there is an alternative with minimal side effects. Originally known

by its chemical compound number - STI-571, Gleevec is creating new options

and hope for those with CML.

" I worked with Gleevec from the very beginning and it's amazing how well it

works, " says Sawyers, who ran trial studies at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center.

" It appears that this new drug actually does inhibit the activity of the

enzyme or mutant protein, tyrosine kinase, which in many patients kills the

leukemia. "

In clinical trials that began in June 1998, STI-571 was tested with patients

in the chronic stage of the disease. " In the past four years at our clinic

at UCLA we have had a 98% response rate, " says Sawyers. " In the first trials

we tested 80 or so people and in the second trials there were 1,000 patients

using STI-571. "

In another trial, patients with end stage leukemia were tested. Eleven

percent of those being treated with Gleevec had their blood count return to

normal.

" Of course, the biggest unknown is what are the long-terms results of taking

Gleevec, " says Sawyers.

Bob Ferber, prosecutor for L.A.'s City Attorney's office, is one of Sawyer's

patients who is in full remission.

" I was critical. When I learned that I was in remission, I cried, " Ferber

says. " I found myself wishing that my friends in the support group could

have this too, " says Ferber. " Even if all I got was these past 15 months, it

was worth it for the improved quality of life. "

Gleevec also has shown signs of successfully treating a rare stomach tumor,

and likely can be used in combination with other drugs for other

life-threatening diseases such as Hepatitis C.

" The success of this drug will inspire efforts to design other inhibitors

for other kinds of cancer, " predicts Sawyers. " This is the highlight of my

career. I have been waiting to see patients get better - not just survive. "

Now CML patients are hoping the FDA agrees with Sawyers and approves the

drug soon. For O'Neal, approval could mean a starring role in a real 'love

story.'

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[Guest guest]

Just wanted to point out that this is a really old article, in fact,

it was written before Gleevec was approved.

The last I heard, O'Neal was on 800mg of Gleevec and doing well.

Tracey

>

>

>

> _____

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> 05/09/2001 - Updated 02:16 PM ET

>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

>

>

> New drug may give O'Neal's story a happy ending

>

> By Adele Slaughter, Spotlight Health

>

> With medical adviser A. Shoop, M.D.

>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

<http://images.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/_photos/oneal.jpg>

> AP file

> O'Neal.

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

> Actor O'Neal gained fame in the '70s in the movie Love Story,

in which

> he played the true love of a girl who develops acute leukemia. Now,

30 years

> later, his own life has taken a tragic twist: O'Neal has been

diagnosed with

> chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

>

> But O'Neal's story may have a happy ending, says a leading leukemia

expert.

>

> Research indicates that a new drug called Gleevec inhibits the

growth of

> cancerous cells without attacking the body's healthy cells. The

Food and

> Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly close to approving Gleevec,

which

> has generated very promising preliminary results in trial studies.

>

> " There's a very good chance this drug could put Mr. O'Neal into

remission, "

> says Dr. Sawyers, professor and researcher at UCLA's

Jonsson Cancer

> Center. Sawyers emphasizes he is not treating the actor, who last

week

> revealed his illness.

>

> Leukemia is a cancer associated with the body's white blood cells.

It begins

> in either the bone marrow or the lymphatic system, eventually

spreading to

> other organs. Leukemia can be chronic (slow growing), or acute

(rapidly

> growing).

>

> Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), one of the four major types of

leukemia,

> is the most rare and generally only affects adults. CML begins as a

> slow-growing cancer and becomes acute in the later stages of the

disease.

>

> The American Cancer Society estimates that about 4,700 Americans

will be

> diagnosed with CML this year. Statistically, approximately half of

those

> cases result in death.

>

> But that may be about to change.

>

> Leukemia basics

>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

Leukemia symptoms

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

> . Chronic fatigue

>

> . Fever of unknown origin

>

> . Frequent bacterial or viral infections

>

> . Weight loss not due to dieting or exercise

>

> . Headaches

>

> . Skin rash

>

> . Non-specific bone pain

>

> . Bruising easily

>

> . Bleeding from gums or nose

>

> . Blood in urine or stools

>

> . Enlarged lymph nodes and/or spleen

>

> . Abdominal fullness/bloat

>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

> About one out of every five people with chronic leukemia have no

symptoms in

> the early stages of the disease. Even more troublesome is the fact

that the

> manifesting symptoms of leukemia can be unclear, making early

diagnosis

> difficult. Patients may have some or all of a number of symptoms.

>

> Doctors commonly diagnose leukemia through history, physical

examination,

> and repeated blood cell counts. Normal white blood cells are used

to fight

> infections in the body. Without the proper white cell count - about

6,000 to

> 10,000 - or with abnormal white cells, the immune system defenses

are

> weakened against bacteria and viruses. For a leukemia patient, a

common cold

> can be extremely debilitating or even fatal.

>

> An individual with CML produces an abundance of " irregular " white

blood

> cells. Eventually, these proliferating white blood cells clog the

> bloodstream with immature cells, crowding out the healthy cells in

the bone

> marrow and the blood becomes " goopy. "

>

> Bone marrow tests, excisional lymph node biopsy, lumbar puncture as

well as

> X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound imaging tests may also help confirm a

> diagnosis and define the stage of the condition.

>

> Doctors recognize three stages of CML: the " chronic, "

the " accelerated, " and

> the end stage, referred to as " blast crisis. " During the chronic

stage,

> white blood cell counts peak, but generally patients have very few

symptoms.

> The chronic stage of CML can last up to five years. During the

accelerated

> stage of CML, blood cell counts skyrocket and symptoms abound. At

the blast

> crisis stage the patient's prognosis is grim. Generally, they live

only

> several months.

>

> Experts agree that the abnormal gene that causes CML is acquired,

not

> inherited. However, it is not clear why the gene begins to mutate.

The

> American Cancer Society confirms that some risk factors for

contracting

> leukemia are smoking and increasing age.

>

> Environmental factors can also play a role. For example, the

survivors of

> the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear blasts have a high incidence of

CML.

> There is also concern that very high-voltage power lines might cause

> leukemia.

>

> But most people who develop leukemia do not have any of the known

risk

> factors.

>

> Miracle treatment

>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif> For

more information

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

> . American Cancer <http://www.cancer.org> Society

>

> . UCLA <http://cancer.mednet.ucla.edu/> Jonsson Cancer Center

>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

> <http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif>

>

> " Biologically, CML is caused by a mutant protein that we have been

studying

> for a long time, " says Sawyers, who has studied CML for more than a

decade.

> " It involves an enzyme called tyrosine kinase, a class of enzyme

which

> cancers frequently create in the body. We thought that if we could

find a

> way to inhibit the growth of these enzymes we could fight this

particular

> mutant protein. "

>

> The two standard treatment options for CML have been either a bone

marrow

> transplant, which has extreme limitations, or a daily injection of

the drug

> interferon. Both treatments are extremely taxing for patients.

>

> " Interferon causes fevers and makes patients feel as if they have

the flu.

> It can also cause depression, " reports Sawyers. " While it can help,

it

> severely diminishes the patient's quality of life. "

>

> But now there is an alternative with minimal side effects.

Originally known

> by its chemical compound number - STI-571, Gleevec is creating new

options

> and hope for those with CML.

>

> " I worked with Gleevec from the very beginning and it's amazing how

well it

> works, " says Sawyers, who ran trial studies at UCLA's Jonsson

Cancer Center.

> " It appears that this new drug actually does inhibit the activity

of the

> enzyme or mutant protein, tyrosine kinase, which in many patients

kills the

> leukemia. "

>

> In clinical trials that began in June 1998, STI-571 was tested with

patients

> in the chronic stage of the disease. " In the past four years at our

clinic

> at UCLA we have had a 98% response rate, " says Sawyers. " In the

first trials

> we tested 80 or so people and in the second trials there were 1,000

patients

> using STI-571. "

>

> In another trial, patients with end stage leukemia were tested.

Eleven

> percent of those being treated with Gleevec had their blood count

return to

> normal.

>

> " Of course, the biggest unknown is what are the long-terms results

of taking

> Gleevec, " says Sawyers.

>

> Bob Ferber, prosecutor for L.A.'s City Attorney's office, is one of

Sawyer's

> patients who is in full remission.

>

> " I was critical. When I learned that I was in remission, I cried, "

Ferber

> says. " I found myself wishing that my friends in the support group

could

> have this too, " says Ferber. " Even if all I got was these past 15

months, it

> was worth it for the improved quality of life. "

>

> Gleevec also has shown signs of successfully treating a rare

stomach tumor,

> and likely can be used in combination with other drugs for other

> life-threatening diseases such as Hepatitis C.

>

> " The success of this drug will inspire efforts to design other

inhibitors

> for other kinds of cancer, " predicts Sawyers. " This is the

highlight of my

> career. I have been waiting to see patients get better - not just

survive. "

>

> Now CML patients are hoping the FDA agrees with Sawyers and

approves the

> drug soon. For O'Neal, approval could mean a starring role in a

real 'love

> story.'

>

> More

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