All posts by Chris

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Breast Cancer, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

Off Label Drug Use Rises in Fight against Cancer

Repurpasing Cancer Drugs
Repurposing Cancer Drugs

In recent years, drug repositioning or repurposing has become a valuable strategy in immunotherapy for cancer as researchers find previously unknown uses for approved drugs.

“Multitasking” Drugs

A research team at the University of Bergen in Norway has been searching for chemical compounds that can shut down a tumor’s signaling system, preventing continued growth and spread. Over a five-year period, the researchers scanned thousands of compounds ranging from Chinese herbs to FDA-approved drugs.

While testing current drugs, the team discovered that axitinib, a drug used on kidney cancer, has properties that knock out communication paths between mutant cells. Since 90 percent of all cancers are caused by mutations, researchers are hopeful that the drug can be put to use on breast, prostate, colorectal and other forms of cancer.

A New Direction for Cancer Treatment

With the development of new pharmaceuticals taking up to 10 years, repurposing has become a popular cost- and time-effective strategy. The University of Bergen team has also identified a handful of other promising compounds for testing. Lead Professor Karl-Henning Kalland believes that axitinib holds strong potential for use in combination with immunotherapy for cancer.

Issels® Is on the Cutting Edge of Immunotherapy for Cancer

Whether it’s repurposing drugs, cancer vaccines or NK cells, you can be sure that Issels® will be a leader in the use of personally developed, non-toxic immunotherapy treatments. Contact us to read and hear real-life testimonials from patients with all forms of cancer, including lung, melanoma and leukemia, which have been successfully treated at Issels®.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

Expert States Traditional Cancer Treatments are Out of Step with Modern Advances

Classic Cancer Treatment is Dated
Classic Cancer Treatment is Dated

As the spotlight continues to shine on developing immunotherapy for cancer, the medical community is taking a hard look at traditional cancer treatments. During a recent press conference in Dubai, one of America’s top oncology experts explained why he believes cancer treatment is “out of step” with modern medical advances.

A “Rock Star” of Molecular Medicine Weighs In

Dr. Samuel Bernal, a Harvard-trained professor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, is himself a cancer survivor. In addition, Dr. Bernal was the leader of a multi-disciplinary team of molecular cancer researchers for 20 years and has written several books about oncology and the drug resistance of cancer cells.

During last month’s press conference, Dr. Bernal stated that traditional cancer treatments don’t cure the disease, but merely prolong a patient’s life at best. He cites strict FDA requirements for standardized treatments as being counter-productive because no two cases of cancer are the same.

Giving the Immune System a Helping Hand

Based on years of studies and his own personal experience, Dr. Bernal believes that stem-cell therapy is the most effective cancer treatment. He explains that our immune systems usually do a good job of killing cancer cells, but when they slip through and gain a foothold, a patient’s own stem cells provide the greatest boost in fighting the cancer.

Issels®: The Leader in Personally Tailored Immunotherapy for Cancer

At Issels®, all of our personalized immunotherapy protocols are developed to address each patient’s specific case. We also take into account factors such as lifestyle, environment and genetic predisposition. Contact us today for more information about our non-toxic, individualized immunotherapy for cancer programs.

Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy for Cancer

Genetic Advances Made in Prostate Cancer Identification

Prostate cancer affects approximately 15 percent of males in their lifetime, and is second only to skin cancer. Recent identification of an overactive gene that accelerates prostate cancer could lead to development of a more effective treatment.

Prostate Cancer Evolves Beyond Drugs

Most prostate tumors are caused by a form of cancer called adenocarcinoma. In advanced stages, adenocarcinoma is treated with drugs that block androgens, the male hormones that fuel the tumor. Unfortunately, the tumors have evolved into a more aggressive, androgen-resistant form called neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Identification
Prostate Cancer Identification

A cross-disciplinary team supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation discovered a gene known as N-Myc that appears to be the driver behind the change to the more aggressive form. While N-Myc is not usually found in prostate cancer, it has been known to occur in other forms such as neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the nervous system found in children.

A Pathway to New Treatment Methods

When N-Myc goes into overdrive, it teams up with a protein called EZH2 to block the tumor’s androgen signaling and “flips the switch” on the molecular program that leads to the more aggressive neuroendocrine form. Dr. Jonathan W. Simons, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, calls this a “game-changing” discovery that can enable development of more successful treatments.

Personalized, Non-Toxic Treatments for Prostate Cancer

Issels® offers a wide range of Immunotherapy for Cancer protocols, including vaccines and NK cells that have been used to treat patients with prostate cancer, melanoma, leukemia and all other forms. Contact us today to find out how Immunotherapy for Cancer at Issels® can help you or your loved one.

Cancer Research, News

University Researchers Show How Wearable Technology Can Fight Cancer

Can Wearable Technology Change How Cancer is Fought?
Can Wearable Technology Change How Cancer is Fought?

Wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers have been at the forefront of the latest wave of technology. Thanks to researchers at the University of Southern California, wearable technology could be the next step in more effective cancer treatment.

Cancer Moonshot Launches ATOM-HP

“South by South Lawn” (SXSL) is a White House-based festival patterned after the ground-breaking SXSW annual event in Austin, TX. SXSL gathers and celebrates innovators and visionaries who are creating ways to improve lives, both domestically and globally.

The USC project, called Analytical Technologies to Objectively Measure Human Performance (ATOM-HP), is part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative started by Vice President Joe Biden. ATOM-HP uses wearable devices to provide doctors with real-time data that was previously unavailable.

The ATOM-HP Difference

Even during cancer treatment, doctors and patients have only sporadic contact. Decisions are based on the doctor’s observations and self-reporting by the patient, which can result in an incomplete picture of the illness. ATOM-HP lets the doctor “see” effects of treatment and its impact on the patient’s everyday life.

As explained by Jorge Nieva, co-lead on ATOM-HP, the process humanizes treatment by allowing doctors to observe patients beyond the controlled confines of the hospital or clinic. Nieva refers to it as a “safety net for patients” who may be struggling with cancer treatments.

Co-lead Peter Kuhn stressed the importance of ATOM-HP for cancer research. Instead of relying on previously collected data, researchers will have the benefit of real-time information.

Personalized, Non-Toxic Immunotherapy for Cancer

At Issels®, we incorporate the most up-to-date technology and methods in our immunotherapy for cancer. Contact us today for more information.

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy, Immunotherapy for Cancer

Does Treatment Cause Cancer to Spread?

Can Cancer Treatment Causer The Spread of Cancer
Can Cancer Treatment Causer The Spread of Cancer

One of the obstacles to immunotherapy for cancer and other traditional treatments is that the disease can reoccur. While it was believed this was due to cancer cells developing resistance to drugs, recent evidence suggests that the problem may be the treatments themselves.

“A Double-Edged Sword”

Penicillin and other antibiotics were once hailed as “wonder drugs,” but overuse resulted in many forms of bacteria adapting and becoming immune to the toxic effects. The medical community felt the same process was behind the tendency of cancer to reoccur and spread to other areas.

A recent discovery by a team of Israeli scientists has shed new light on the problem. Their study involved mice with multiple myeloma, which is produced in bone marrow and spreads throughout the body. They received treatment with bortezomib, an anti-cancer drug with the brand name of Velcade.

The researchers were surprised to find that Velcade caused inflammatory cells in the bone marrow to accelerate the cancer, arming the cells with resistant properties. While they emphasize that “treatment with Velcade is essential and necessary,” the team is working on methods to inhibit the body’s response so treatments are more effective.

Immunotherapy for Cancer: A Personalized Approach

Our Issels® immunotherapy treatments are developed to meet each patient’s individual needs. These integrative programs attack cancer cells directly and treat the underlying causes to reduce the risk of tumor growth and reoccurrence.

Contact us to learn more about cancer vaccines, NK cells and the other non-toxic immunotherapy for cancer treatments offered at Issels®.

Cancer Care Tips, Living with Cancer

Eating Tips for While You’re In Cancer Treatment

1 Comment
Be The Healthiest You Can Be With These Eating Tips!
Be The Healthiest You Can Be With These Eating Tips!

Cancer treatment can be very hard on your body, especially if you’re undergoing intensive chemotherapy or taking medicine with extreme side effects. Many times, cancer patients will go through a dramatic loss of appetite, which can make keeping your body healthy even more difficult if you don’t have the strength to eat, or keep down, a minimal amount of food.

Cancer Treatment Tips for Meals

Many of these tips work well for anyone who is ill, not just cancer patients, but it’s especially important for you to stay strong during your treatment.

  • Eat smaller meals – Smaller meals are more likely to stay down and it doesn’t take as much strength to eat them.
  • Eat what you like – If you’re going to be eating less, stick to foods you like since it can make it worse if you force yourself to eat foods you don’t enjoy.
  • Salty foods are healthy – The extra salt content of some foods, especially saltine crackers, tend to improve water retention, which can be an issue if you have other side effects such as diarrhea.
  • Avoid spicy foods – These types of foods are harder to digest, especially when you’re undergoing cancer treatment. A little bit of chili powder may be OK, but you may want to cut the jalapenos out of your diet.

Our team at Issels® is committed to giving you the best possible outlook for your cancer diagnosis. We customize non-toxic treatment plans to best fit every individual. Give us a call at 1-888-447-7357, or visit us at Issels.com, to find out more about how we can help you fight your cancer with advanced immunotherapy techniques.