What’s the difference between remission and a cure? A remission means we can’t find OBVIOUS signs of cancer in the patient’s body. A cure means there are no cancer cells in the body- the body’s immune system has destroyed the cancerous cells. We use similar terms for HIV-AIDS, too.
We are now getting smarter- or at least more adept- in our fights against these scourges. We can harvest immune cells from a patient, combine them with a protein that is present in the cancer we wish to eradicate (or perhaps with the HIV core in the body), and then combine those with another compound to prepare a cancer (or HIV) vaccine or infusion. Once there is sufficient dose prepared, that can then be provided to the patient. The patient’s body now recognizes the cancer as a threat, producing an immune-response to destroy the undesired cells.
The entire process is based upon apheresis, a process whereby one’s blood undergoes separation into various components, ex-vivo (out of the body). In this specific case, the process is called leukapheresis, since only white blood cells are removed. The white blood cells are recovered and employed in an autologous (one’s own cells) transfusion. (Leukapheresis has also been used to recover white blood cells prior to chemotherapy; the cells are then reinfused to the patient to afford the patient a viable immune system [which is normally destroyed by the chemotherapy].)
In this case, the lymphocytes (Thymus or T cells), which are critical in cellular immunity, have a special receptor that can be used to “label” the cancer cell, when they are reinfused to the patient, rendering the cancer easily detected by the body and subject to complete destruction. This is the specific mode of action behind Dendreon Corporation’s product (Provenge) for prostate cancer. Bristol Myer’s offering for melanoma (Yervoy) is slightly different, in that an antibody is bonded to immune cells that prevent them from becoming active. These therapies are NOT cheap- the three dose Provenge is just shy of $ 100K; Yervoy costs another $ 25K or so.
The attached video will provide more background into this process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6L1RtwS4YI
This is great news, Roy.
My sister was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 3 years ago.
She is currently in remission and doing well ~ I hope they fine a cure for this and all cancers.
Janette:
We have a Congress that believes that this is a waste of funds. That does not bode well for original research- only for applied research (that requires new basic knowledge) which corporations effect.
One can only hope for a government that starts fixing our infrastructure (roads, bridges, air travel), as well as research for the future.
Good luck for your sister. My dad succumbed to a combination of lymphoma, sarcoma, and leukemia (in less than 180 days).
Roy
great to know that we are getting smarter with cancer.
Nancy- thanks for dropping in.
We have been trying all kinds of things. I still remember a fellow grad student that had an idea (that never was well tested, other than by he) to feed patients 100% oxygen (and perhaps perfluorocarbons) which would greatly increase cell growth. The fastest growers- cancerous cells. Zapping them with radiation or chemotherapy would then, preferentially, target them. It would be easier to treat them. And, that was 40 y ago!
Roy