Issels Integrative Immuno-Oncology July 28, 2016  

Hard to Treat Pancreatic Cancer Responds to Immunotherapy

Dear Friend,

Pancreatic cancer is one of the more difficult forms of cancer to diagnose, resulting in a low survival rate. A recent study found that immunotherapy for cancer holds great promise for more effective treatment.

Current treatments for pancreatic cancer

At this time, surgery appears is the best option for pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, the tumors are often discovered too late for surgery to be feasible. Doctors are left using chemotherapy and other methods to control the cancer.

Medical breakthrough with immunotherapy

Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center in New York set out to find a treatment that could make pancreatic cancer more receptive to surgery. The test involved use of PF-0416309, an immunotherapy drug that targets immune cells in pancreatic tumors.

Subjects included 47 patients whose pancreatic cancer had begun to spread. Eight received chemotherapy alone, while the others received a combination of chemotherapy and the immunotherapy drug.

Most of those who received the combination experienced a halt in the tumor's growth, which was double the rate projected by the research team. Some saw their tumors shrink, while in one patient the cancer disappeared.

What's next?

Due to health issues, three patients dropped out, but otherwise no one had side effects more serious than those experienced with chemotherapy alone. The researchers now plan to extend the scope of the test with phase 2 trials.

Issels® is the leader in immunotherapy for cancer

For years, our Issels® center has been ahead of the curve on immunotherapy for cancer. Our non-toxic treatment programs are created individually, based on each patient's specific needs. Visit our website to learn more about cancer vaccines and other non-toxic cancer immunotherapy treatments today.

Hope for effective treatment to fight pancreatic cancer.

Read more interesting articles on the "Issels Immunotherapy" news/blog posted every Tuesday and Thursday. Check It Out Now »


New Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Researchers have come up with a treatment that delivers small yet strong electrical bursts that destroy pancreatic cancer cells, which is known as irreversible electroporation (IRE). These electrical bursts create holes in the cells, which leads them to die off.

The use of this type of treatment has been associated with a survival rate that nearly doubles for those who also undergo a traditional form of treatment, such as chemo-radiotherapy. IRE is able to affect cancer cells while leaving noncancerous tissue around those cells unharmed, which can lower the risk of side effects and complications.

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Foundation Works to Improve Awareness of Pancreatic Cancer

Did you know that in the U.S. pancreatic cancer comprises just 3 percent of cancer cases, yet it accounts for 7 percent of fatalities? For those affected by the disease, information and support can be harder to find compared to more common forms of cancer. Find out what Herb Kosten’s family is doing with their foundation to increase awareness of this disease.

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Videos – What Do Patients Say About Their Experience?

Watch videos of patients who share their own experiences at the Issels clinics with you. Listen to their stories and cancer journeys.

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