Here’s
the headline that caught my eye “UCLA scientists develop promising new
combination treatment for glioblastoma.” - http://www.news-medical.net/news/20150902/UCLA-scientists-develop-promising-new-combination-treatment-for-glioblastoma.aspx
The
first sentence of the posting hedges that statement but also holds out some
promise saying “UCLA scientists have developed a potentially promising new
combination therapy for glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer.”
If
you’re new to the brain tumor business, the first two sentences succinctly and
bluntly spells out the dark truth about GBM: “Glioblastoma, also known as grade
IV glioma, is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in humans. Approximately
23,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) every year.
Patients usually receive surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but these
treatments are not very effective as an estimated 50 percent of GBM patients
die within one year, and 90 percent die within three years”
Several
facts whacked me in the eyeballs as I read that paragraph: “23,000 people in
the U.S.”, “…but these treatments are not very effective…” and “…an estimated
50% die within one year…”
I
don’t know what else to say. GBM is ruthless, relentless and black-heartedly
deadly. So when somebody, anybody,
says there is any kind of hope for victims, I pay attention.
The
article discusses a study led by UCLA's Drs. Robert Prins and Linda Liau, both
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center members, that looked at the impact of
a combined treatment using a chemotherapy drug called decitabine and
genetically modified immune cells or T cell immunotherapy.
The article reports that “this new method was nearly 50 percent effective at curing
glioblastoma in the study.”
I
so want to believe that this new protocol/therapy can be rolled out quickly to
every GBM victim worldwide.
Read
the entire article to better understand how the therapy works and what the next step
is: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20150902/UCLA-scientists-develop-promising-new-combination-treatment-for-glioblastoma.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment