Pitt develops colon cancer vaccine

[llipgh2]

If the trials continue to go well, this will be an incredible breakthrough.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/pitt-cancer-institute-announces-successful-early-human-trial-of-colon-cancer-vaccine-669381/

[eddysnake]

As someone who is susceptible to cancerous polyps, this is good stuff. I also would not mind one single bit if this would keep me from getting yearly scopes. I hate that the age is 50 to start getting checked out, I'd be dead if they didn't accidently come across what they did when I was 26.

[Troy Loney]

PITT > PSU!

[shafnutz05]

This sounds like great news (and I can't imagine a world without eddysnake, so happy you are healthy eddy)...but doesn't it seem like you are always hearing about early human trials for vaccines and whatnot? I know scientific progress can be very slow, but I just feel like I am always hearing about these breakthroughs but you never actually see the final result.

[Sarcastic]

They are working on a new approach in Japan. Sounds really cool, actually.

http://now.msn.com/t-cells-that-cure-cancer-grwon-by-japanese-researchers

Think a simple shot that cures cancer is a pipe dream? It's not. Japanese researchers have successfully gathered hordes of cancer-fighting white blood cells, aka cytotoxic T-cells, that have the awesome ability to recognize cancer and attack it. Problem is, there aren't a whole lot of these naturally occurring cells around, so the scientists at the University of Tokyo and the Riken Research Centre ingeniously converted samples into stem cells, grew more, and then transformed them back into killer T-cells specifically engineered to target distinct diseases like skin cancer. Next step is to prove that when these powerful cells are injected back into humans, they'll stick to attacking tumors, not healthy cells.

[newarenanow]

This sounds like great news (and I can't imagine a world without eddysnake, so happy you are healthy eddy)...but doesn't it seem like you are always hearing about early human trials for vaccines and whatnot? I know scientific progress can be very slow, but I just feel like I am always hearing about these breakthroughs but you never actually see the final result.

I think it takes a while to hit the market, and when I say while, I mean years. And also, not everything works 100%, so there are some that do eventually fail. I think there are a lot of things out there that you hear about the breakthrough, but the immediate overall impact is not widely reported, because it is years after that it actually hits the general population, and by that time, it is the "norm" if you will.

I have one example of this in my extended family. They have CML, a type of leukemia (same type Karreem Abdul Jabar has). 20 years ago, they would have been dead after 2-3 years. But a new drug broke through about 20 years ago called Glevek (I think). When I researched it, I saw some articles from like 1993 talking about the break through, but when you look after, you only see a few articles and mainly in the medical community. But this drug pretty much turned a deadly disease into a chronic one, where over 90% of people on this medicine live a normal life with little side effect, and the leukemia is never cured, but like diabites, it is kept under control.

I know that is only one example, but that is a breakthrough that many don't ever hear about ones it hits the general population and just becomes normal, but was a big deal when it first came through. But it took a decade or so to catch on.

[mac5155]

bEAT **** PITT

[eddysnake]

This sounds like great news (and I can't imagine a world without eddysnake, so happy you are healthy eddy)...but doesn't it seem like you are always hearing about early human trials for vaccines and whatnot? I know scientific progress can be very slow, but I just feel like I am always hearing about these breakthroughs but you never actually see the final result.

that is interesting. I have to goto UPMC yearly to see a specialist, and 6 years later they still haven't been able to tell me why at my young age, I am going through this, but I'm definitely going to ask about this. When I first went in, they basically told me I have precancerous polyps in their last stage they removed and I have to wait 10 days to find out if they spread. Luckily they didn't, but I could have been a month away from a completely different life. Those were the longest 10 days of my life.

[Letang Is The Truth]

This sounds like great news (and I can't imagine a world without eddysnake, so happy you are healthy eddy)...but doesn't it seem like you are always hearing about early human trials for vaccines and whatnot? I know scientific progress can be very slow, but I just feel like I am always hearing about these breakthroughs but you never actually see the final result.

I think it takes a while to hit the market, and when I say while, I mean years. And also, not everything works 100%, so there are some that do eventually fail. I think there are a lot of things out there that you hear about the breakthrough, but the immediate overall impact is not widely reported, because it is years after that it actually hits the general population, and by that time, it is the "norm" if you will.

I have one example of this in my extended family. They have CML, a type of leukemia (same type Karreem Abdul Jabar has). 20 years ago, they would have been dead after 2-3 years. But a new drug broke through about 20 years ago called Glevek (I think). When I researched it, I saw some articles from like 1993 talking about the break through, but when you look after, you only see a few articles and mainly in the medical community. But this drug pretty much turned a deadly disease into a chronic one, where over 90% of people on this medicine live a normal life with little side effect, and the leukemia is never cured, but like diabites, it is kept under control.

I know that is only one example, but that is a breakthrough that many don't ever hear about ones it hits the general population and just becomes normal, but was a big deal when it first came through. But it took a decade or so to catch on.

pharmaceutical development is broken in to 4 stages - preclinical (animals, lab) which can take about 2-4 years. then there are phase I II and III clinical trials which typically take about one, two, and three years respectively. so you are looking at about 9-11 years for each drug to be approved for the market. the typical cost to take an entire drug from lab to patient is about 500-billion dollars now. interesting thing about the time frame is that the patent starts when the molecular formula is discovered so some drugs may only be patent protected for 5-7 years based on how long the development and fda approval is

[llipgh2]

that is interesting. I have to goto UPMC yearly to see a specialist, and 6 years later they still haven't been able to tell me why at my young age, I am going through this, but I'm definitely going to ask about this. When I first went in, they basically told me I have precancerous polyps in their last stage they removed and I have to wait 10 days to find out if they spread. Luckily they didn't, but I could have been a month away from a completely different life. Those were the longest 10 days of my life.

So you have no history (that you know of) of colon cancer in your family? 2 of my coworkers have a history of polyps and colon cancer in their families, both had to start screening at relatively young ages.

[shafnutz05]

Interesting LITT. I think a lot of people have absolutely no idea how much R&D is involved in pharmaceutical development. It's not just a matter of creating a pill and mass producing it for $$$$

[Letang Is The Truth]

pharmaceuticals have about 15-18% profit margin, easily one of the highest in the healthcare sector next to durable medical equipment. the margin is so high because a number of developmental drugs get killed in preclinical and PI,PII devleopment. this several hundred million. also, i wish i still had an infographic about the development of drugs and the cost break out. a fair amount goes to marketing and advertistments

[eddysnake]

that is interesting. I have to goto UPMC yearly to see a specialist, and 6 years later they still haven't been able to tell me why at my young age, I am going through this, but I'm definitely going to ask about this. When I first went in, they basically told me I have precancerous polyps in their last stage they removed and I have to wait 10 days to find out if they spread. Luckily they didn't, but I could have been a month away from a completely different life. Those were the longest 10 days of my life.

So you have no history (that you know of) of colon cancer in your family? 2 of my coworkers have a history of polyps and colon cancer in their families, both had to start screening at relatively young ages.

No history whatsoever, but now my kids get to test early, hopefully by then it's an easier process.

[canaan]

since this isn't a full-blown cure yet, can we call it a semi-colon cure?

[PensFanInDC]

They are working on a new approach in Japan. Sounds really cool, actually.

http://now.msn.com/t-cells-that-cure-cancer-grwon-by-japanese-researchers

Think a simple shot that cures cancer is a pipe dream? It's not. Japanese researchers have successfully gathered hordes of cancer-fighting white blood cells, aka cytotoxic T-cells, that have the awesome ability to recognize cancer and attack it. Problem is, there aren't a whole lot of these naturally occurring cells around, so the scientists at the University of Tokyo and the Riken Research Centre ingeniously converted samples into stem cells, grew more, and then transformed them back into killer T-cells specifically engineered to target distinct diseases like skin cancer. Next step is to prove that when these powerful cells are injected back into humans, they'll stick to attacking tumors, not healthy cells.

This has "zombie virus" written all over it

[meecrofilm]

since this isn't a full-blown cure yet, can we call it a semi-colon cure?

Spoiler:

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH