Taking Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma "Personally"
CLEVELAND -- Researchers at
University Hospitals of Cleveland's Ireland Cancer Center have begun
the third phase of testing a new vaccine for low-grade lymphoma
patients that 'personalizes' the therapy by using the genetic material
obtained from the patient's own tumor to stimulate his or her immune
system to fight this malignant disease. The study is designed to
determine whether this novel treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is
more effective than the standard therapy alone.
Typically, patients receive chemotherapy, antibody therapy, and
radiation alone or in combination for the low-grade (chronic,
slow-growing) form of the disease that attacks the lymphatic system.
This approach often causes a remission that leaves them symptom-free
for many years. But unfortunately, the remission rarely lasts.
"This disease eventually recurs and succeeds in shortening the patient's life," says Omer N. Koç, M.D.,
oncologist at the Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals of
Cleveland and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar in Clinical
Research. "Our investigation was launched to help improve the
prognosis."
Dr. Koç is principal investigator for this new Phase III study at UHC
that tests a new combination personalized immunotherapy for
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with a low-grade form of the disease.
His team has tested the same therapy in earlier phases of their
research and found it to be well tolerated and promising. The therapy,
a two-step process, begins with a biopsy of the patient's lymph nodes.
Researchers isolate the tumor's genetic sequence and use it to
synthesize a tumor-specific protein in the laboratory. This
unique protein is used as a vaccine.
Treatment involves injection of a monoclonal antibody Rituximab (trade
name Rituxan) weekly for 4 weeks followed by monthly injections of
personalized vaccine (trade name FavId). Researchers hope to
diminish lymphoma cells in the body and trigger an immune response in
each patient that will recognize and destroy lymphoma cells before they
can grow back.
When tested independently, FavID and Rituxan each were effective
against malignant B-cells (lymphocytes that control the immune system).
By combining them, researchers say, it may be possible to enhance the
effectiveness of FavID and Rituxan individually. FavID contains two key
ingredients: a tumor specific protein, called an idiotype, and also a
second protein, called Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin, from an ocean mollusk.
Currently available vaccines cause people to develop immunity to
infectious diseases. By delivering tumor proteins to immune cells, a
vaccine can provoke the immune system into attacking non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma similar to immune systems attacking flu after a flu vaccine.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma originates in the lymph system and often spreads
throughout the body. About 55,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in
the United States. The disease is increasing among people 60 and over,
and also among people with compromised immune systems.
The study is being conducted at 80 medical centers across the
country. For more information about the study, please call
216-844-5432 or 1-800-641-2422.
|
Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 (Archive on Wednesday, July 07, 2004) |
| Return |