MOSS RELEASES NEW REPORT ON IMMUNE TREATMENT OF CANCER

[Guest guest]

From: subscribe@...(Cancer Decisions News Staff)

Date: Sun, Aug 8, 2010, 4:35am (CDT-5) To:

#455: Free Weekly Newsletter by Ralph W. Moss, PhD. August 8, 2010

MOSS RELEASES NEW REPORT ON IMMUNE TREATMENT OF CANCER

This week we are proud to announce the release of a new report for the

general reader on a little-known method of treating cancer. Entitled

" Unleashing the Immune System: New Insights Into Cancer, " this

book-length report details the origin and development of a system for

filtering the blood in order to achieve a beneficial effect, even in

late-stage cancer.

The report explains the rationale for this treatment: the removal of

certain specific factors from the blood that block the activity of tumor

necrosis factor (TNF). It details the theories and achievements of an

American hematologist/oncologist, M. Rigdon Lentz, MD, who helped

pioneer the use of therapeutic apheresis (TA) for cancer a quarter

century ago. Lentz and his physician wife now administer this treatment

to patients in a private outpatient clinic in Germany. He also works

with industry to perfect the production of new commercial medical

devices, such as his unique Oncosorb™ affinity column.

An early version of Lentz's treatment, called UltraPheresis,™ was

based on a modified kidney dialysis machine. This was tested in clinical

trials at the University of California Medical Center, Irvine (where

Lentz was a professor) and at the Kennedy Hospital in Indio, Calif.

Using this prototype device, Lentz was able to achieve objective

anti-tumor responses in several kinds of cancer. I first described these

results in my newsletter in 1994.

His early results were consistent with results seen in a dozen small

clinical trials using TA as a cancer treatment in the 1970s and

early-to-mid 1980s. But with the development of adsorption columns in

the 1990s, Lentz was able to advance the art and science of TA for

cancer beyond what was possible in earlier decades.

I visited Lentz in Germany in 2008, shortly after his Oncosorb device

received the CE mark of conformity in the European Union. I returned

several times afterwards, most recently in May 2010, to gain a better

understanding of his methods and results. Needless to say, I think this

is a very promising technique. Like most TA, it is minimally invasive

(although it does require implantation of an indwelling catheter), and

its effects depend on removal of two specific blocking factors from the

blood, rather than adding toxic substances.

Although not a " magic bullet, " at least in the cases of advanced disease

where it has been studied, its beneficial effects are demonstrated in

this report. It can sometimes achieve classically defined tumor

regressions (and improvement in quality of life) in situations in which

other more toxic modalities are no longer viable.

Telling this story in a fair and comprehensive manner has engaged much

of my attention for the past two years. I give the entire history of TNF

and blocking factors (dating back almost a century), of TA's

once-widespread use in cancer, including a description of the dozen

clinical experiments using similar methods performed around the world in

the 1970s and 1980s. I also give the first biographical account of Dr.

Lentz's life and career, including a detailed explanation of his

troubles with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This downloadable (pdf) report is 170 pages in length, including 20

pages of scientific references and a listing of Lentz's main patents and

publications.

Several leading immunologists read and commented on advance copies of

" Unleashing the Immune System. "

" This report is extremely good, very detailed and well documented as

well as very interesting historically, " said Prof. Jacques , AC,

FRS, the discoverer of the two major subsets of lymphocytes, T cells and

B cells, and their function. " I did not know much about the treatment of

Rigdon Lentz. I think it is a pity he had to go to Germany in order to

pursue his work. "

Meanwhile, Hersey, MD, the first person to publish a paper on the

use of TA in cancer, commented, " Ralph Moss has uncovered another rich

vein in medical history. "

This digital report is now available for downloading for $19.95 at our

Web site, www.cancerdecisions.com. You can order it directly by clicking

here.

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[Guest guest]

Aside from being very interesting and encouraging as it speaks to 'Quality of

life', none of what is written in this newsletter speaks to survivability but

perhaps this is covered in the $19.95 report.

Here is what I consider the most telling in this week's post:

" Although not a " magic bullet, " at least in the cases of advanced disease

where it has been studied, its beneficial effects are demonstrated in

this report. It can sometimes achieve classically defined tumor

regressions (and improvement in quality of life) in situations in which

other more toxic modalities are no longer viable.

What stands out is the term " Tumor Regression " (response?) and " Quality of

life " , the last being very important.

They will have fits if they try to get this approved and past the FDA which has

strong ties to the Cancer Industry and perhaps, if someone purchases the $19.95

report, they can let us know whether survivability improvement is documented

therein. If there is this improvement in 'advanced' cases, one would think

that less advanced cases could be helped before they become advanced. It is

odd that only advanced cases are studied.

Joe C.