Amgen vaccine triggers immune response in advanced melanoma

[Locutus]

(Reuters) - An experimental Amgen Inc cancer vaccine used to treat advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, proved effective in a late-stage study in shrinking tumors in a way that suggests the drug triggered the intended systemic immune response, according to data presented on Friday.

The vaccine shrank tumors that were directly injected with the drug and tumors around the body that were not injected, according to the data.

The drug, talimogene laherparepvec, also known as T-vec, is an engineered virus designed to replicate inside the injected tumor, killing cancer cells there, as well as prime the immune system to attack other cancer cells around body.

Dr. Robert Andtbacka, one of the study's lead investigators, in a telephone interview, called the results "very encouraging."


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CORRECTED-Amgen vaccine triggers immune response in advanced melanoma -study | Reuters

 

[Tonington]

It's an attenuated herpes virus. Very nice selective treatment. If the phase IV trials continue to show promising results like this, they'll have quite the blockbuster.

 

[Nuggler]

here's hoping

 

[darkbeaver]

It's an attenuated herpes virus. Very nice selective treatment. If the phase IV trials continue to show promising results like this, they'll have quite the blockbuster.

It's inappropriate to mention possible profit motive when clearly the health and welfare of victims is first and formost in the minds of all the wonderful people involved in this marvelous breakthrough. I;m shocked and dissillooshioned about your post.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Engineered viruses. Not sure what could possibly go wrong.

(If you need a list there are probably 10 or more movies of some sort or other which deal with this type of scenario.)

 

[Goober]

Engineered viruses. Not sure what could possibly go wrong.

(If you need a list there are probably 10 or more movies of some sort or other which deal with this type of scenario.)

New colorectal cancer target found in stem cell gene - Medical News Today
Researchers in Canada found that switching off a gene in the cancer stem cells that drive colon cancer stops them from being able to renew themselves. They say their study offers a starting point to treatments that could shut the cancer down.

Cancer stem cells are cells that have the ability to differentiate into all the types of cell that exist in that type of tumor.