This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44288503
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Vaccine for cancer that killed Tessa Jowell 'remarkably promising' | Vaccine for cancer that killed Tessa Jowell 'remarkably promising' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A vaccine could help to significantly extend the lives of people diagnosed with the brain cancer that killed Tessa Jowell, early trial results suggest. | A vaccine could help to significantly extend the lives of people diagnosed with the brain cancer that killed Tessa Jowell, early trial results suggest. |
| People with glioblastoma who took part in the study lived more than twice as long as those on standard treatments in many cases, researchers say. | People with glioblastoma who took part in the study lived more than twice as long as those on standard treatments in many cases, researchers say. |
| The vaccine works by using the body's immune cells to target the cancer. | The vaccine works by using the body's immune cells to target the cancer. |
| A cancer charity said the preliminary results from the 11-year study appeared "remarkably promising". | A cancer charity said the preliminary results from the 11-year study appeared "remarkably promising". |
| The standard treatment for glioblastoma, the most aggressive of brain tumours in adults, involves removing the tumour followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. | The standard treatment for glioblastoma, the most aggressive of brain tumours in adults, involves removing the tumour followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. |
| But it is difficult to treat and patients live on average for only 15 to 17 months after surgery. | But it is difficult to treat and patients live on average for only 15 to 17 months after surgery. |
| For this phase three trial of 331 people from the UK, the US, Canada and Germany, 232 patients were given the immunotherapy vaccine DCVax on top of standard treatments while the rest received a placebo along with normal care. | For this phase three trial of 331 people from the UK, the US, Canada and Germany, 232 patients were given the immunotherapy vaccine DCVax on top of standard treatments while the rest received a placebo along with normal care. |
| The vaccine works by taking immune cells, known as dendritic cells, from the patients' bodies and then combining them with a sample of their tumours. | The vaccine works by taking immune cells, known as dendritic cells, from the patients' bodies and then combining them with a sample of their tumours. |
| When the vaccine is injected back into the patient, the body's entire immune system recognises the cancer to attack. | When the vaccine is injected back into the patient, the body's entire immune system recognises the cancer to attack. |
| Preliminary results from the study, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, found those involved in the trial survived for more than 23 months on average after surgery, with 100 living for 40.5 months at the time of the researchers' analysis. | |
| Because the study has not concluded yet, the data does not break down who received the vaccine and who had the placebo, but this will be released when the trial concludes. | Because the study has not concluded yet, the data does not break down who received the vaccine and who had the placebo, but this will be released when the trial concludes. |
| The longest survivors have lived for more than seven years after surgery. | The longest survivors have lived for more than seven years after surgery. |
| The study's authors said it appears that patients on the trial who reach a certain threshold beyond diagnosis "may continue onwards to unusually long survival times". | The study's authors said it appears that patients on the trial who reach a certain threshold beyond diagnosis "may continue onwards to unusually long survival times". |
| Vaccine did 'what everyone said was impossible' | Vaccine did 'what everyone said was impossible' |
| Kat Charles was told in 2014 that she had three months to live after NHS doctors ran out of options to treat her brain cancer. | Kat Charles was told in 2014 that she had three months to live after NHS doctors ran out of options to treat her brain cancer. |
| "They said there was nothing more they could do for me," says Kat, now 36 from Milton Keynes. | "They said there was nothing more they could do for me," says Kat, now 36 from Milton Keynes. |
| "I was distraught." | "I was distraught." |
| After undergoing the standard forms of treatment, and even taking part in a clinical trial for another medicine, she and her husband Jason raised funds to pay for DCVax privately. | After undergoing the standard forms of treatment, and even taking part in a clinical trial for another medicine, she and her husband Jason raised funds to pay for DCVax privately. |
| After receiving the treatment, Kat's most recent MRI scan showed no trace of the tumour. | After receiving the treatment, Kat's most recent MRI scan showed no trace of the tumour. |
| "DCVax has done what everyone said was impossible," her husband Jason says. "If not for this treatment, I would be without my wife and without a mother for our child." | "DCVax has done what everyone said was impossible," her husband Jason says. "If not for this treatment, I would be without my wife and without a mother for our child." |
| Kat continues to have regular injections of the vaccine. | Kat continues to have regular injections of the vaccine. |
| "I go to London on the train, I have a shot in each arm and then I'm free to go home. It doesn't give me any side-effects. It's fantastic." | "I go to London on the train, I have a shot in each arm and then I'm free to go home. It doesn't give me any side-effects. It's fantastic." |
| What is glioblastoma? | What is glioblastoma? |
| Source: The Brain Tumour Charity | Source: The Brain Tumour Charity |
| 'Major breakthrough' | 'Major breakthrough' |
| Keyoumars Ashkan, professor of neurosurgery at King's College Hospital in London, who was the trial's European chief investigator, said the results gave "new hope to the patients and clinicians battling with this terrible disease". | Keyoumars Ashkan, professor of neurosurgery at King's College Hospital in London, who was the trial's European chief investigator, said the results gave "new hope to the patients and clinicians battling with this terrible disease". |
| "Although definitive judgement needs to be reserved until the final data is available, the paper published today hints at a major breakthrough in the treatment of patients with glioblastoma. | "Although definitive judgement needs to be reserved until the final data is available, the paper published today hints at a major breakthrough in the treatment of patients with glioblastoma. |
| "Cautious optimism is welcome in an area where for so long the disease and suffering have had the upper hand." | "Cautious optimism is welcome in an area where for so long the disease and suffering have had the upper hand." |
| Dr David Jenkinson, chief scientific officer for the Brain Tumour Charity, said: "These results appear remarkably promising for a community of patients who have been given little hope for decades. | Dr David Jenkinson, chief scientific officer for the Brain Tumour Charity, said: "These results appear remarkably promising for a community of patients who have been given little hope for decades. |
| "We need further analysis of the data from this trial and more research in this area to ascertain the role that immunotherapy can play in the battle against brain cancer." | "We need further analysis of the data from this trial and more research in this area to ascertain the role that immunotherapy can play in the battle against brain cancer." |
| Follow Alex on Twitter. | Follow Alex on Twitter. |