Re: CML vaccine in trials at s Hopkins

[Guest guest]

WOW.

On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 11:13 PM, Lottie Duthu <lotajam@...> wrote:

> Release Date: 01/05/2010

> JOHNS HOPKINS RESEARCHERS SAY VACCINE APPEARS TO “MOP UP” LEUKEMIA CELLS

> GLEEVEC LEAVES BEHIND

> s Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say preliminary studies show

> that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate

> the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

> patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

> Gleevec, one of the first targeted cancer therapies with wide success in

> CML patients, destroys most leukemic cells in the body, but in most

> patients, some cancerous cells remain and are measurable with sensitive

> molecular tests. These remaining cells are a source of relapse, according

> to the investigators, especially if Gleevec therapy is stopped.

>

> In a pilot study published in Clinical Cancer Research, the s Hopkins

> investigators used a vaccine made from CML cells irradiated to halt their

> cancerous potential and genetically altered to produce an immune system

> stimulator called GM-CSF. The treated cells also carry molecules, called

> antigens, specific to CML cells, which prime the immune system to recognize

> and kill circulating CML cells.

>

> The study vaccine was given to 19 CML patients with measurable cancer

> cells, despite taking Gleevec for at least one year. A series of 10 skin

> injections were given every three weeks for a total of four times. After a

> median of 72 months of follow-up, the number of remaining cancer cells

> declined in 13 patients, 12 of whom reached their lowest levels of residual

> cancer cells. In seven patients, CML became completely undetectable.

>

>

>

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/Early_Tests_Show_Vaccine_Appe\

ars_to_Mop_Up_Leukemia_Cells

>

> FYI,

>

> Lottie Duthu

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is impressive! Wow!

[ ] CML vaccine in trials at s Hopkins

Release Date: 01/05/2010

JOHNS HOPKINS RESEARCHERS SAY VACCINE APPEARS TO " MOP UP " LEUKEMIA CELLS

GLEEVEC LEAVES BEHIND

s Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say preliminary studies show

that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate

the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

Gleevec, one of the first targeted cancer therapies with wide success in CML

patients, destroys most leukemic cells in the body, but in most patients,

some cancerous cells remain and are measurable with sensitive molecular

tests. These remaining cells are a source of relapse, according to the

investigators, especially if Gleevec therapy is stopped.

In a pilot study published in Clinical Cancer Research, the s Hopkins

investigators used a vaccine made from CML cells irradiated to halt their

cancerous potential and genetically altered to produce an immune system

stimulator called GM-CSF. The treated cells also carry molecules, called

antigens, specific to CML cells, which prime the immune system to recognize

and kill circulating CML cells.

The study vaccine was given to 19 CML patients with measurable cancer cells,

despite taking Gleevec for at least one year. A series of 10 skin

injections were given every three weeks for a total of four times. After a

median of 72 months of follow-up, the number of remaining cancer cells

declined in 13 patients, 12 of whom reached their lowest levels of residual

cancer cells. In seven patients, CML became completely undetectable.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/Early_Tests_Show_Vaccine_

Appears_to_Mop_Up_Leukemia_Cells

FYI,

Lottie Duthu

[Guest guest]

>

> Release Date: 01/05/2010

> JOHNS HOPKINS RESEARCHERS SAY VACCINE APPEARS TO " MOP UP " LEUKEMIA CELLS

GLEEVEC LEAVES BEHIND

> s Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say preliminary studies show

that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate the

last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients

taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

After a median of 72 months of follow-up, the number of remaining cancer cells

declined in 13 patients, 12 of whom reached their lowest levels of residual

cancer cells. In seven patients, CML became completely undetectable.

________________________________________

Hi Lottie and group,

Every advance is good news.........but this is how I read this abstract. It

sounds like this vaccine has gotten some patients to PCRU but that does NOT MEAN

that it has eliminated all the cml cells. The only way to test this is to have

the patient go off drug and see if they remain cml free....which this study has

not done.

C.