All posts by Chris

Cancer Research, Uncategorized

Drug Combo for Melanoma May Prove to be a Silver Bullet for This Cancer

Birth Control Pills
New Drug Concoction for Melanoma

Encouraging news from successful immuno-oncology treatments for cancer: a recent study shows that a particular combination may notably prolong life for patients with melanoma. British researchers are studying the effects of two drugs — ipilimumab and nivolumab — to see if one or both drugs works best for patients with inoperable melanoma or metastatic melanoma.

As immuno-oncology drugs, both medications work by delivering antibodies that train the immune system to kill cancer cells.

Melanoma Immunotherapy Results

The results so far show that nivolumab alone may deliver better outcomes than ipilimumab alone. When taken together, patients have survived even longer. For individual patients, the results can vary depending on the presence of a certain protein, PD1.

A breakdown of the outcomes for patients with advanced and difficult melanoma:

  • Patients taking only ipilimumab have survived 2.9 months
  • Patients taking only nivolumab have survived 6.9 months
  • Patients taking the combination have survived 11.5 months
  • The blind, controlled study is still ongoing, so results may evolve

Nivolumab specifically targets cancer cells by attaching to the PD1 protein. For patients whose tumors carry PD1, treatment with nivolumab alone may be as effective as the combo. If the PD1 protein is not present, however, the combo has been performing better than ipilimumab alone.

While ipilimumab has been approved in the U.S. and European Union, the newer drug nivolumab has only been approved for trials. The promising results of the drug for PD1-positive patients, and the possibility that it creates a “one-two punch” with other immunotherapy treatments, gives hope that patients with melanoma will soon have access to the drug.

Visit Issels® for more information about immuno-oncology and our currently available treatments.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy

Does the High Cost of Immunotherapy Mean You Won’t Get Treatment?

nurse feeds data of test tubes with blood for analysis into the database
Issels has options for immunotherapy treatment of cancer.

Immunotherapy for cancer that costs more than $1 million per patient per year? Issels® knows how frustrating coming to terms with the affordability of cancer treatment can be, and you’re not the only one taking notice. At the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2015 meeting, Dr. Leonard Saltz, MD of NYC’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center brought the stark reality of this issue to light.

Unsustainable
Among the concerns addressed by Dr. Saltz was the need to establish cost controls for treatment, as there is an upper limit to how much society can afford to pay. Prices are not being based on the value of drugs, but what (the seller believes) the market will bear.

The trickle-down…
This year, the cost of a family insurance plan plus out-of-pocket expenses equates to approximately 50% the average U.S. household income. Continue this trend, and by 2028 it will be 100%.

How bad is it?
Saltz identified multiple therapies whose prices were in excess, limiting accessibility. The latest: pembrolizumab (Keytruda):

  • 2mg/kg (2014 standard dose) – $14,500 per month.
  • 10mg/kg (2015 proposed clinical trial dose) – $83,000 per month.

The astronomical out-of-pocket?
Saltz calculated for the average, 165 pound American patient, the drug would cost $1,009,944 per year for 26 doses. With a 20% Medicare copay, that’s a whopping $201,988 out-of-pocket for a single year of treatment! This stark reality is hoped to lead to a drastic changes in melanoma treatment, as many patients cannot afford medical insurance, least of all these copays and therapies.

Has playing the lotto become your backup plan for affording cancer treatment? Don’t give up hope. Contact Issels® and discover an array of cutting-edge immunotherapy  options today!

Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, Uncategorized

Why Is It Taking So Long to Find a Cure for Cancer?

Ideas on finding a cure for cancer.
Ideas on finding a cure for cancer.

At Issels®, we know that many of our readers wonder about research being done to find a cure for cancer. Many impatiently wait for progress as cancer leaves an indelible mark on anyone who has ever had cancer or known and/or loved someone who has had cancer.

Why is a cure taking so long?

Scientists are still trying to understand all of the complex processes that turn cells into the many types of cancers that exist.

How Does Cancer Form?

As Dr. Craig Thompson, CEO of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, pointed out in a recent article about this topic, family genetic inheritance, the formation site, immune system responses and cellular changes all factor into the complex puzzle that is cancer. We know that the last two items have the most influence:

  • The immune system isn’t perfect. Severe allergies and asthma are conditions that often happen when the immune system becomes confused about what it should or should not fight off to protect the body. Cancer is another example.
  • Many cells mutate into cancer because of natural aging changes we don’t yet completely understand. Sometimes there are errors during growth that repeat when new cells form. Lastly, cells can experience DNA damage from microorganisms, radiation, toxins and poor habits like smoking and tanning.

As Thompson noted, the key is to understand the “biology of cancer” and then use that knowledge to prevent it in those who don’t have it and create new treatments that precisely deal with causation in those who do.

At Issels® Immuno-Oncology, we have integrated many of the most recent precision techniques into our non-toxic, customized cancer treatment plans. For more information, contact us today.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Uncategorized

Researchers Predict a Rise in Breast Cancer

Cancer Detection
Researchers Predict A Rise In Breast Cancer

At Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology, we pay close attention to research about cancer trends from around the world to help us improve our precision treatment methods.

According to research results announced in April by Dr. Philip Rosenberg, Ph.D of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer, Epidemiology and Genetics, Americans will see several new breast cancer trends by 2030.

Age Matters

Longer lifespans will result in more breast cancer cases:

  • Dr. Rosenberg predicts a more than 50 percent rise in breast cancer cases, including an estimated 11 percent increase in older women.
  • Women who live into their 70’s and early 80’s are at a higher risk of getting ER-positive in situ cancer (i.e. tumors caused by estrogen that are confined to the breasts).
  • ER-positive in situ cases will increase overall by an estimated 10 percent.

Hopeful News

Whether you have cancer or not, it’s important to remember the following:

  • These predictions were based on other predictions and assumptions — for example, that mammography will remain a major detection method.
  • The predictions were also based on incomplete and old data, including U.S. Census Bureau data, aggregate details about 500,000 patients diagnosed with cancer in the years up through 2010 and total cancer case numbers from 2011.
  • If the predictions are accurate, at least one group will deal less with certain breast cancers: a 10 percent decrease in overall cases for those ages 50 to 69.
  • Dr. Rosenberg also predicts an 8 percent decrease in the number of ER-negative in situ and invasive cancers that are difficult to treat.

To learn more about this study, cancer trends and/or our treatment options, contact our expert and caring Issels® staff today.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Uncategorized

Promising New Treatments Use Molecular Cancer Classifications for Melanoma

Cancer Treatment in Tijuana
Preventing Melanoma

In a groundbreaking effort that could lead to improved strategies even for stage four melanoma treatment, researchers have gathered national data to better determine cancer risk of four major molecular subtypes of cancer. What does this mean for your cancer treatment efforts? Issels® wants you to know.

Improved classification of data = better treatment.
Broken down by age, race/ethnicity, poverty level, and other factors, the data gathered will help researchers more accurately determine the degree of risk, and cancer patients better understand health implications based on their breast cancer subtype, as each of the four major molecular subtypes responds differently to treatment and has varying survival rates.

More access = better treatment.
Also improving strategies for stage four melanoma treatment, the data gathered has been recorded by cancer registries nationwide, making widely available medically important information to guide therapeutic strategies for these cancer subtypes.

Faster identification = better treatment.
The new diagnostic categories identified by researchers will further support the prevention and treatment of multiple types of cancer, as well as monitor their incidence and outcomes, providing further necessary data for the use in stage four melanoma treatment.

Promising findings = a better future for you.
The findings, as well as the statistical analysis of the most common types of cancer, were reported in “The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2011,” which also confirmed encouraging trends in cancer mortality among men, women, and children alike, reflecting the progress made over the years in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.

Struggling with stage four melanoma treatment? Issels® help you on the path to recovery. Contact us today.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

Immunotherapy: What It Is and How It Works to Fight Cancer

T Cells
Building Your Immune System

Immunotherapy represents a real breakthrough in cancer treatment. It activates the body’s own immune system so that it can identify and eliminate cancer cells. This approach to stage four cancer treatment has reduced the side effects of treatment and yielded impressive results.

Supercharge your Immune System

The great part about the human body is that is comes fully equipped with a protective system meant to fight outside invaders. The trick is to tap into that power and be able to target tumors and cell mutations. New clinical trials have been successful in achieving those goals. In fact, more and more immunotherapy drugs are being fast-tracked for FDA approval.

Fighting Sneaky Cancer Cells

Typically, the immune system has trouble recognizing cancer cells because they are very similar to normal cells. This allows cancer cells to sneak by the body’s natural defenses and spread. New drugs have been proven to boost the immune system and help it seek out and destroy mutated cells without putting you through radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which can come with a whole host of harmful side effects.

So far, immunotherapy drugs have been used to treat different types of blood and bone cancer, including Leukemia. The results have been so promising, that scientists feel confident that they will be able to tackle a wider range of cancers in the near future.

Issels® doctors’ expertise in integrating personalized vaccines into a comprehensive immunotherapy program has already benefited many patients. They are working hard to also advance new treatment methods. We believe in boosting the immune system and improving overall health and quality life during treatment. A comprehensive and personalized treatment plan is the best approach to beating cancer. Find out how we can help you in your fight against cancer today by asking about our immuno-oncology programs.