custum vaccine to cure cancer

[LynnP]

http://wcco.com/local/canine.brain.tumor.2.1116578.html>
Free Tumor Removal For Dogs Speeds Human Research
Dennis Douda
(WCCO)

One year after curing a dog's potentially deadly brain cancer, the treatment
is being made available to more pet owners at the University of Minnesota,
free. The treatments are part of a clinical trial being conducted by the
College of Veterinary Medicine, The School of Medicine and the Masonic Cancer
Center.

A mixed-breed Shepherd named Batman was the first dog treated this way and
his success was so dramatic, the National Cancer Institute is funding further
research for up to 100 dogs.

Batman had a common tumor called a glioma, meaning it had scattered invasive
cancer cells. Veterinary Surgeon Liz Pluhar said most dogs die within 30 days
of diagnosis.

"And here we are a year later and with no evidence of disease," said Dr.
Pluhar as she walked Batman outside the university's veterinary hospital.

After Dr. Pluhar surgically removed as much of Batman's brain tumor as
possible, the tumor cells were irradiated in a laboratory to kill them. Then
the cells were treated to make a custom vaccine, specifically engineered to
trigger an intense immune response in the dog.

"And [Batman's] the immune system creates antibodies against those specific
antigens or pieces of cell," explained Pluhar. "hopefully [the cells] go to
the brain where they take out residual tumor."

Under a research grant, eight other dogs had the same procedure at a cost of
about $12,500 each. All of the dogs had their brain cancers shrink or
disappear. While some critics may question spending so much money and using
such high technology to save the life of a pet, they may soften a bit when
they understand that what's being learned by treating the dogs could save
human lives.

"Absolutely, that is the whole point of doing this originally," said Pluhar.

University of Minnesota brain tumor researcher Dr. John Ohlfest said his team
is very excited about the results. Dr. Ohlfest said one unique element of the
vaccine's creation is to develop it in an oxygen-starved environment, which
seems to make it much more efficient in finding cancer cells that had
survived surgery.

Ohlfest said most cancer research on animals involves rodents and such
procedures often do not work when tried in people. However, he believes,
working with dogs has greatly accelerated life-saving advances for both man
and dog.

"What we learn in the people we may decide to redesigned several aspects of
vaccine that was tested in dogs first," said Ohlfest. "That way we can do it
much faster than if we were just doing people and working in the laboratory."

After more success treating dogs with brain cancer, Ohlfest said they hope to
test the treatment in people within two to three years. Anyone with a dog
recently diagnosed with a brain tumor is encouraged to contact the University
to see if it might qualify for free treatments through the clinical trial.

[photo] After Dr. Pluhar surgically removed as much of Batman's brain
tumor as possible, the tumor cells were irradiated in a laboratory to kill them.

[Tanya Marquette]

Lynn
This is so interesting. A friend's sister just entered a clinic in Mexico that uses a similar
idea of creating a cancer vaccine from the patient's body. I don't know how they make
the vaccine, but it sounds like the vet college is investigating what others are already
doing with people elsewhere.
tanya