One Important Step to Improving Treatment for Therapy-Resistant Cancers

Cancer Therapies at the Molecular Level in Intracellular Proteins
Cancer Therapies at the Molecular Level in Experimental Antibodies

The use of immunotherapy for cancer has helped many patients with cancers that are difficult to treat or cancers that have spread. However, there have been certain limits on how this treatment works. In some cases, tumors have become resistant to this form of treatment. Researchers have been working on a combination therapeutic approach that shows more promise in effectively fighting cancer.

Experimental Antibody

Researchers at Stanford and Yale developed an experimental antibody that is able to target more immune cells that are involved with the growth of tumors. Current immunotherapy approaches focus on a smaller number of these immune cells, which limits their ability to eliminate cancerous tumors. While these approaches have stopped cancer from spreading in some cases, they have been unable to successfully deal with tumor growth in other cases.

The experimental antibody is able to prevent another type of immune cell, known as a myeloid cell, from contributing to tumor growth and immunotherapy drug resistance.

Combination Immunotherapy

The use of this experimental antibody along with immunotherapy drugs is showing the potential for effectively fighting cancer. Researchers have used it on cell culture models and mouse models that contain human cell membrane proteins. This combination immunotherapy approach limits the growth of tumor cells, making it harder for them to thrive and spread. Researchers still need to do more studies on this experimental antibody in order to determine if it can be used to treat cancer cases that are metastatic or more advanced.

To learn more about immunotherapy for cancer, please visit Issels®. We offer advanced programs for those who are looking for nontoxic forms of cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy Advances May Now Help Patients with Reoccurring Multiple Myeloma

Immunotherapy Can Expand Options for Those With Limited Cancer Treatment Options
Immunotherapy Can Expand Options for Those With Limited Cancer Treatment Options

One of the benefits of immunotherapy for cancer is that these treatments often have positive results where others have failed. Results of two recent studies show that immunotherapy has real possibilities for treating multiple myeloma.

What Is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is the second-most diagnosed form of blood cancer, just behind non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In patients with multiple myeloma, infection-fighting plasma cells grow out of control, causing bone tumors and chronic infections.

Immunotherapy for Cancer: A Promising Treatment for Multiple Myeloma?

In 2017, a research team from Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania conducted two separate studies involving patients with multiple myeloma that had proven resistant to other therapies.

Patients in the first study received a single dose of chemotherapy before being infused with CART-BCMA, a specific form of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy developed by Penn researchers in collaboration with Novartis. Results indicated that 64 percent of the group had a positive response.

In the second study, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, patients received an experimental monoclonal antibody known as GSK2857916. The drug specifically targets delivery of a chemotherapy drug directly to cancer cells. Overall response rate was 60 percent, with more than half the responding patients experiencing a greater than 90 percent reduction in myeloma protein levels.

Both treatments target BCMA, which is a protein expressed by multiple myeloma cells.

Issels®: The Leader in Immunotherapy for Cancer

Our non-toxic, individually developed immunotherapy programs boost your body’s immune system and its natural defense mechanisms. Contact us for more information about our success treating patients with advanced cancer that has resisted other forms of therapy.

Immunotherapy Makes a Terminal Diagnosis Become Years Not Months

Extending Your Life After Cancer May Now Be Attainable.
Extending Your Life After Cancer May Now Be Attainable.

At one time, a diagnosis of terminal cancer left little hope. Today, astounding developments in cancer treatment have created a segment of “super survivors” who live long past their terminal diagnosis.

Living with “Terminal” Cancer?

Canadian teacher Anne-Marie Cerato is a prime example of the new super survivors. Eight years ago, at the age of 32, non-smoker Cerato underwent treatment for lung cancer. Two years later, doctors found that the cancer had spread to Cerato’s other lung and she was diagnosed as terminal.

Cerato decided to quit her job and spend her remaining months traveling the world. Amazingly, months stretched into years, and Cerato has not only married but is considering a return to teaching.

The key to Cerato’s survival has been two pills a day of a drug called lorlatinib, which she takes as part of a clinical trial. Cerato’s tumors carry a rare gene reassignment, making her cancer the type that lorlatinib is designed to treat.

New Cancer Treatment Provides Hope

According to Dr. Mark Doherty, an oncologist in Toronto, clinical trials of lung cancer immunotherapy treatments have resulted in 20 percent of patients surviving the five-year point. Doherty pointed out that this response was “unheard of” with previous chemotherapy drugs.

These patients are not considered cured. Rather, their diagnosis changes from a terminal illness to a chronic but treatable disease. Doctors follow up with regular scans to make sure the cancer has not progressed.

State-of-the-Art Immunotherapy from Issels®

Our founder, Dr. Josef Issels, was ahead of his time in developing non-toxic, personally tailored immunotherapy cancer treatments. Contact us to learn how we are carrying on his legacy.

Immunotherapy May Now Be Possible for Some HIV Positive Patients

Targeted Immunotherapy May Now Be Possible
Targeted Immunotherapy May Now Be Possible for Some HIV Patients Who Have Cancer

Even though cancer is a major cause of death for patients with HIV, their compromised immune systems have been a barrier to immunotherapy for cancer treatments. A recent study shows that immunotherapy may be safer for HIV patients than was previously thought.

Is Immunotherapy for Cancer Compatible with HIV-Positive Patients?

Although HIV patients have routinely been excluded from immunotherapy research, results of a clinical trial involving them were presented at last fall’s meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy for Cancer. The study included 17 HIV-positive patients with advanced cancers of various forms.

Patients in the trial were treated with Keytruda, a checkpoint inhibitor approved for use with melanoma, lung cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a number of other cancers. Results showed that Keytruda had a positive effect on the patients.

Continuing Research into HIV-Positive Patients and Immunotherapy

The one exception was Kaposi sarcoma (KSHV), a viral form of cancer associated with HIV and immune system disorders. Kaposi sarcoma patients in the trial did not experience the same benefits as others, so the study has been amended to exclude those with symptomatic KSHV.

According to team member Dr. Thomas Uldrick, further research is needed with immunotherapy and KSHV patients, but it doesn’t negate the overall message that immunotherapy can be safe for HIV patients. The National Cancer Institute also recommends the inclusion of HIV patients in clinical immunotherapy trials.

Issels®: Defeating Advanced Cancer with Immunotherapy

Our individually tailored immunotherapy for cancer treatments have helped patients achieve long-term remission, even in cases where traditional treatments have failed. Contact us to learn more about cancer vaccines and other non-toxic treatments at Issels®.

Monumental Advances in the Treatment of Bladder Cancer

There is New Hope for Bladder Cancer Treatment
There is New Hope for Bladder Cancer Treatment

When it comes to immunotherapy cancer treatment, checkpoint inhibitors have been a major game-changer. 2017 alone saw five approvals for checkpoint inhibitors that greatly advanced treatment for bladder cancer.

Bladder Cancer Treatment: The Year in Review

During the Society of Urologic Oncology’s annual meeting in late 2017, speaker Elizabeth Plimack, M.D., recapped the year’s highlights in bladder cancer treatments.

– The good news began in February, with the approval of Opdivo for second-line treatment of bladder cancer as a follow-up to platinum-containing therapy.

– After approval in 2016 as a second-line treatment, Tecentriq was granted approval as a front-line treatment in April 2017.

– May 2017 brought about approvals for three more treatments: Imfinzi, Bavencio and Keytruda.

As Plimack stated during her presentation, these approvals demonstrate that checkpoint inhibitors are “here to stay.”

What Lies Ahead?

One area that needs more research is how to be more accurate in choosing patients who will be most receptive to these treatments. Other features that require further studies include duration of response, delayed toxicities and overcoming resistance.

Plimack’s comments included cautioning against extrapolating the data to patients who are eligible for cisplatin, which is a form of chemotherapy. As Plimack explained, more trials are needed before checkpoint inhibitors are approved to replace cisplatin as first-line treatments.

Issels®: Immunotherapy Treatment for Advanced Cancers

We have a successful track record of providing cancer treatment that helps patients achieve long-term remission, even in advanced and therapy-resistant cases. Visit our website to hear and read testimonials from patients of all ages with various forms of cancer who have been treated at Issels®.

Cancer Treatment: Considerations for the Aged

Consider Treatment when Dealing with the Lives of Senior Citizens.
Consider Treatment when Dealing with the Lives of Senior Citizens.

When you’re diagnosed with cancer at a later age, there are certain factors to take into consideration when you weigh your treatment options. Find out more about how being in your 60s or older can have an effect on cancer treatment.

Underlying Medical Conditions

Having another medical condition, such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis, might affect the kinds of medication you can take during cancer treatment. It might also have an impact on the type of treatment you can safely undergo. Your oncologist should talk to your regular doctor about any other health conditions you have in order to provide you with safe and effective treatment options.

Nutritional Concerns

If you undergo chemotherapy for cancer, it can end up causing nausea and fatigue, which makes it more difficult to eat nutritious meals and maintain a healthy weight. Since nutrition is an important part of treatment for cancer, you might need to make arrangements to have someone help with meal preparations. You can also look into treatment options with fewer side effects, such as Issels® immunotherapy.

Daily Tasks and Activities

Some forms of treatment, such as radiation, can leave you with low energy levels and other side effects that make it hard to handle daily tasks and activities. Whether you need help around the house or reliable transportation to and from treatment appointments, make plans to have someone assist you with these errands rather than trying to do them on your own.

If you need more information on cancer treatment for the aged, please contact Issels®. We offer nontoxic immunotherapy for many different types and stages of cancer.