BALTIMORE, Md. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a slow-growing cancer that attacks certain proteins on white blood cells. Now, doctors have discovered an alternative to traditional chemotherapy for battling this disease. Outsmart cancer
Barry Taylor, a retired magician, has chronic lymphocytic leukemia — a blood cancer producing too many abnormal white blood cells.
“Your spleen and liver can enlarge, your bone marrow can become packed up with the leukemic cells,” Georgetown University Medical Director of blood disorders, Dr. Ralph Boccia explains.
Instead of staying on traditional chemo, Barry’s doctors are using new therapies to treat his cancer. Outsmart cancer
Dr. Boccia further explains, “We went from fairly fixed duration therapies, to now, take it until your disease gets worse again, so, we call that treat to progression – progression to cancer. Now, we have, kinda, come full circle, where we’re realizing we could put some of these combinations together, and can give them limited therapy that might last only a year or two.”
These drugs are critical for outsmarting cancer.
“He’s on a targeted drug called Acalabrutinib, a monoclonal antibody called Obinutuzumab, and another targeted drug called Venclexta,” Dr. Boccia tells Ivanhoe.
Barry expresses, “I was in the ICU, and things were getting bad, but when I got on this Venclexta, boy, it was a lifesaver.”
And now, Barry is in remission, but is still on the drug therapies to keep his cancer at bay.
There can be side effects from any drugs, so Dr. Boccia recommends discussing treatment options with your hematologist. With these innovative therapies, doctors feel that they may be getting close to a cure.
Contributors to this news report include: Donna Parker, Producer; Kirk Manson, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Source:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/drug-trials-snapshot-venclexta
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: NO MORE CHEMO: NEW DRUGS OUTSMART CANCER
REPORT: MB #5247
BACKGROUND: Leukemia is a type of cancer that attacks the blood-forming tissues in the body and involves excessive amounts of abnormal white blood cells. According to the Cleveland Clinic, leukemia is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and is most common among Caucasian males between the ages of 65 and 74, though there are some forms of leukemia that are more common in children. The four types of leukemia include: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). People who have had previous cancer treatment, smoke, are exposed to industrial chemicals, have certain genetic disorders, or have a family history of leukemia have an increased risk of developing it.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20374373
SYMPTOMS & DIAGNOSING: Symptoms of leukemia sometimes depend on the type of leukemia. Some of the most common symptoms include, but are not limited to: fever or chills, fatigue, recurrent nosebleeds, swollen lymph nodes, and/or bone pain or tenderness. It’s important to seek medical attention if any of those symptoms persist. Leukemia may be diagnosed with a physical exam, blood work, a bone marrow biopsy, a spinal tap, or a series of imaging tests, like MRIs or CT scans.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20374373
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Georgetown Blood Disorders Medical Director, Ralph Boccia and his colleagues are developing an alternative to chemotherapy for leukemia patients using a combination of FDA-approved drugs called acalabrutinib and Venclexta. The combination of these drugs can possibly stop the progression of the cancer.
(Source: Dr. Ralph Boccia)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Ilke Limoncu
ilke.limoncu@abbvie.com
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
