New ‘Living’ Drug Kills Leukemia

[DonViejo]

Source: AFP/via TDB


We're onto you this time, leukemia. A new cancer treatment that uses the patient's immune system has been found to destroy leukemia in 88 percent of adults, according to a new report. Out of 16 patients inovlved in the study, 14 went into compete remission after scientists genetically engineered their T cells to aim to destroy cancer. "This is a real phenomenon," said Renier Brentjens, director of cellular therapeutics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "This could be a paradigm shift in the way we approach cancer therapy."

Read it at AFP
February 19, 2014 3:52 PM

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/02/19/new-living-drug-battles-leukemia.html

[packman]

1. Good news

Had a relative who died from Leukemia. Just hope it's not one of those wonder medical things that is 10 years in the future and seems to disappear.

[Overseas]

2. K&R. Fascinating!

[rurallib]

3. great news - especially considering how fast leukemia can kill an adult.

[apnu]

10. Yes. My father just passed from AML this past summer.

Cancer is a vile thing and should be scourged from the earth with fire.

[rurallib]

13. I give white cells that often go to AML oatients

I have been told that once it gets past a certain stage it is unstoppable.
Sorry about your father.

Had the accidental pleasure of wandering into a party of a survivor. Apparently he got the white cells early enough. He was getting one more dose (me - I was waiting for my stimulant shot) and if it took like the others he was going home.
Almost cried, but didn't want them to know it was me. 4 donors gave 4 units each over a 2 week period.

[slipslidingaway]

15. Thank you so much for your generosity ...

my husband had a stem cell transplant, MDS that evolved to AML, three and half years ago. The anonymous donors are the unsung heroes for so many people! Although he never had a WBC transfusion he had several transfusions of RBC and platelets, all because an unknown person was kind enough to care.

We met a volunteer at Sloan in the cafeteria, just happened to share a table at lunch one day while undergoing treatment for MDS. She donated platelets whenever she could and has commented on his caringbridge site, we might never meet her again, but will always be thankful for what she does for people that she does not know.

In order to donate WBC do you need a shot of Neupogen? Sloan has an annual celebration for transplant survivors, you made me think that along with everyone else they should honor the unknown donors.

Thank you SO much!

Many Hugs!

[rurallib]

16. yes- I get a shot of Neupogen

and then must give between 12 to 16 hours.
I gave on Christmas a couple of years ago and getting that shot on Christmas eve was an eerie event. Everybody was crying. It does have the side effects of making me sick and makes it hard to sleep. I get flu-like symptoms, including headaches and sore joints.

I will toot my horn a bit, because I am quite proud of my donations.
Been giving for over 46 years (december 1967). The Blood Center lost records but I have recorded over 27 gallons , but we estimate a total of over 50 gallons. Really hoping I can make it to 50 years.

Just gave platelets Tuesday. Last year between WBC and platelets I did 16 donations.

[slipslidingaway]

17. Wow ...

you should be proud as many people have been helped with your never ending donations over many years. I can only imagine the number of people who were able to spend more time with their loved ones because you gave of yourself. Interesting about the Neupogen shot but it makes sense, that is what they it what they give to the donor and also the patient.

Thank you so very much!

[wordpix]

4. great news--docs want to give me 30 year-old chemo drugs, in comparison

I don't have leukemia but such is the state of other types of cancer.

[riderinthestorm]

5. Agreed. My husband's in remission from lymphoma 6 years. His chemo regimen was 30 yrs old!

Our niece died of chronic leukemia (initially treated as an 8 yr old, just died at 29) and they still had nothing new to offer her.

K&R.

Hope you have some folks around you to help you through...

[wordpix]

8. thinking of refusing the chemo and thanks for the hug

Don't know what to do, am seeing the oncologist tomorrow. I feel great after recovering from surgery to remove cancer, don't want to go backward to being sick

[riderinthestorm]

14. I don't have a star anymore but I'd happily pay for you so you can access the DU cancer group

They had a lot of good advice and warm shoulders to lean on during the worst of it for me.

The chemo worked for my husband. He's 6 years in remission so the "short term pain" was definitely worth it.

Take care and don't hesitate to pm me for anything (including buying you a membership!)

[Ilsa]

6. This is fantastic news.

I lost a friend to leukemia in 1990, and a friend's teenage son died from the treatment 15 years ago. This is wonderful news.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Posted to for later reading.

[wordpix]

9. more good news: Radiation-Free Cancer Scans: Coming Soon?

http://www.cancercompass.com/cancer-news/article/46574.htm?c=NL20140219

snip:

The new findings highlight an alternative that allows radiologists to scan for tumors without using any radiation. Instead, they used MRI scans in conjunction with a "contrast agent" -- a kind of iron supplement -- that helps them better see the insides of the body.

In the study, the researchers scanned 22 patients aged 8 to 33 who had malignant tumors known as lymphomas and sarcomas. The researchers found similar numbers of tumors by using the new MRI approach (158 tumors) and a traditional radiation scanning approach that combines PET and CT (163 tumors).

"If treatment decisions had been made based on either of these scans, the decision would have been the same," Daldrup-Link said.

[Scruffy Rumbler]

11. "I am Legend" anyone?

Just kidding! Great news!

[theHandpuppet]

12. Wow! This is great news!

Thanks for posting this.