BUFFALO, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Lung cancer is the number one killer in the U.S. Until now, treatment options have been limited. But researchers are studying a revolutionary treatment for cancer patients and those at high risk, like smokers, even if they are not yet showing signs of the disease.
Susan Roney is a successful attorney and a partner in her law firm. She also has a loving family. But seven years ago her life was forever changed.
Roney told Ivanhoe, “I was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in January 2009. I thought I had bronchitis so it was an enormous shock.”
Roney said she didn’t have any of the risk factors for lung cancer.
“I was otherwise healthy. I was a non-smoker. I was 50 years old.”
Now a revolutionary lung cancer vaccine may have the potential to significantly help people like Roney.
Kelvin Lee, MD, the chair of immunology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, explained, “Instead of going after the cancer directly it goes after the growth factor and prevents the cancer from growing with the idea of turning the cancer into a chronic disease.”
The vaccine, called Cimivax, was developed in Cuba, where it is already in use. Dr. Lee said the vaccine has already been shown to be effective.
“The vaccine is inexpensive. It’s easy to give. It’s given as a shot once a month. It has very little toxicity. Patients really do very well with it,” Dr. Lee told Ivanhoe.
As for Roney, the lung cancer metastasized to her brain in the summer of 2015, but she is responding well to treatment. She’s encouraged by news of the potential vaccine.
“The one thing you need when you’re diagnosed with cancer is hope because hope keeps you going,” explained Roney.
The vaccine has also been approved for use in Paraguay and Peru and is expected to be approved soon in Colombia. Meanwhile, phase one clinical trials at Roswell Park in New York City could get underway by the end of this year.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Kris O’Donnell, Field Producer; Milvionne Chery, Assistant Producer; Tony D’Astoli, Editor; Tom Vetter, Videographer.
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: Lung Cancer Vaccine from Cuba
REPORT: MB #4142
BACKGROUND: Over 430,000 Americans alive today have been diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women; about 1 out of 4 cancer deaths are from lung cancer. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. The chance that a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime is one in fourteen while the risk for a woman is one in seventeen. A smoker is approximately 25 percent more likely to develop lung cancer. There are three main types of the disease: non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and lung carcinoid tumor. The most common type of lung cancer is non-small lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that does not go away, coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum, chest pain associated with deep breathing, weight loss or loss of appetite, weakness, and chronic infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Depending on the stage and severity of the cancer, 5 year survival rates range from one percent to about 49 percent.
(Source: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/index)
TREATMENT: Treatment options for lung cancer may include surgery, radiofrequency ablation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy. In most cases, a combination of approaches is utilized. Depending on the stage of your cancer and your treatment options, your treatment team could include a variety of doctors: a thoracic surgeon, a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, and a pulmonologist. Other specialists may be a part of your treatment team depending on your specific case and decisions. In some cases, being a part of a clinical trial may award you access to newer, promising lung cancer treatments.
(Source: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/non-small-cell-lung-cancer-treating-general-info)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: CimaVax is a new cutting-edge vaccination intended for lung cancer patients and for those at high risk for the disease, targeting a growth factor necessary for the cancer to survive. This depletes the cancer’s growth factor, and starves it. As the cancer’s progress slows, it prolongs patient’s lives. The vaccine has been administered to 5,000 patients across the world, and expansive clinical trials have published data showing a mean survival of 18.53 months in vaccinated patients compared to 7.55 months for the unvaccinated patients. The Cancer Institute at Roswell Park in Buffalo is hoping to gain FDA approval so that the vaccine CimaVax may be available to the public. They are also looking into testing similar treatments to aid colon, head and neck, prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancers.
(Source: https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/201509/bringing-cuba%E2%80%99s-lung-cancer-vaccine-states)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Annie Deck Miller
716-845-8593
Ann.deck-miller@roswellpark.org
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
