One principle remains a certainty. The more facts we uncover about something the more new questions become evident. Think of it as being a bit like those starburst fireworks which start out as a single flash, which then produces several more flashes, each of which produces several more until the sky is lit with a multitude of flashes. The main difference is that there is usually no apparent end to the extension of new knowledge that can be achieved when a new discovery is made. This sort of rapid progression of new discoveries seems to be occurring, thankfully, in our search for cures for various cancers. The progress at times is so impressive that it can boggle the imagination. Within the very recent past I experienced just such a revelation regarding the simultaneous advances being made along several fronts. In this brief exposé I would like to present a few of these advances as a means of encouragement for those among you unfortunate enough to be afflicted or to have an afflicted loved one.
On February 6, 2002 an announcement came out of Edmonton, Canada by PRNewswire via COMTEX that Biomira, Inc. had initiated a pilot Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the safety of a vaccine for metastatic colorectal cancer. The idea was to enroll about 20 patients in a study expected to be completed near the end of the year in order to determine whether this vaccine Theratope is capable of inducing an immune response that would result in antibody formation if it was given in combination with first line chemotherapy. Patients would first receive cyclophosphamide and then the combination along with an adjuvant from Corixa Corporation. This would be followed by maintenance treatments. This is not the first time that Theratope has been tried for cancer since it is now also in a Phase III trial for women with metastatic breast cancer. Biomira is also not alone in these endeavors since they have collaboration from the world's oldest pharmaceutical company from Darmstadt, Germany, Merck KgaA. Their drugs will be marketed in the United States by EMD Pharaceuticals, Inc. Furthermore these company's are also investigating another vaccine called BLP25 for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer. Merck KgaA is a leader in cancer research utilizing a wide range of approaches including monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, immunocytokines and angiogenesis inhibitors.
There is also a new class of drugs that has been in the works for a while now. These substances are capable of zeroing in on cancer cells and then destroying them with a deadly dose of radiation. There are presently two products vying for preeminence in this field. One is being developed by Corixa Corporation, mentioned above, in alliance with the prestigious Glaxo SmithKline P.L.C. It's called Bexxar. However, another company, Idec Pharmaceuticals Corporation has at least temporarily moved to the forefront in the United States with Food and Drug Administration approval on February 19, 2002 of its drug Zevalin, which has been okayed as a treatment for non- Hodgkin's lymphoma. The approval presumes that Zevalin will be used in conjunction with Idec's Rituxan when patients do not respond to Rituxan alone or to conventional chemotherapy.
When I first began running into these revelations my attention was attracted by a sudden surge in the stock price of the biotech company ImClone Systems. Inc. I knew that there had been a feud going on between ImClone and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. over a drug the two companies had been developing together called Erbitux, which was to be used to treat colorectal cancer. Apparently, back in December of 2001 the FDA had refused to review the drug. Shareholders, incensed over being misled began to sue in droves and shares of ImClone had plummeted about 75 percent. However, on February 26, 2002 the two companies met with the FDA to discuss the fate of Erbitux with the hope that some more information, including data from Merck KGaA, plus a small, unconventional trial would get approval. Things did not look good because ImClone is a small outfit located in funky SoHo whose chief executive Samuel Waksal's brother, their chief operating officer, had been convicted of cocaine possession in 1981. The ruling was, however, thrown out. Well the miracle occurred because the FDA gave its approval to the drug and the stock price shot up from 14.75 to 23 by the next day. The decision was based on what amounted to several individual case trials on people who had lost all hope yet went into remission on the drug. It was not deemed necessary to run a large clinical trial, at least at this point.
Finally, about the same time, as many of you may already know, it was announced that aspirin may be able to prevent cancers. About 30 studies had shown a decided difference based on the concept that aspirin keeps the prostaglandins from sending messages to cancer cells to proliferate - this besides its salutary effect on preventing heart disease, stroke, and perhaps even Alzheimer's disease.
That was an awful lot of good news in a very short period of time. Now let's hope that these early starbursts lead to future glorious displays.
Where do we go from here?
Is the future far or near?
How strong is the woven rope,
That ties us to the tree of hope?
Why need we wait so long?
Why must we be so strong?
Who will our efforts save?
Who will be interred in a grave?
Why must we always yearn?
When will we ever learn?
That those who meekly accept fate,
Are doomed to be forever, too late.
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Cartoons and Poems following each article are created and copyrighted by Dr. Ackerman and cannot be copied or reproduced without his permission.
Copyright © 2006 by Marvin Ackerman, M.D.
