Killing GBM with Polio: 60 Minutes Episode Labeled “Breakthrough Status”

All you brain tumor victims, caregivers and victim friends and relatives should know that:

“On May 15, CBS 60 Minutes reported that a polio virus vaccine received breakthrough status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of promising results in early studies conducted at Duke University. In an almost 40-minute newscast, CBS 60 Minutes shares perspectives from the researchers, and stories from patients and caregivers that highlighted their experience on the trial.”

“Breakthrough Status” is not lightly given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To the best of my knowledge, this is unprecedented for a brain tumor therapy.

If you have a loved one suffering from Glioblastoma, watch this episode: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-fda-breakthrough-status-duke-university-cancer-therapy/

This is the second time I’m writing about this therapy.  I am compelled to write about it because a dear college friend of my wife and mine has just been diagnosed with GBM. GBM is a horrific, relentless, terrifying disease that strikes down wonderful people, fabulous people, important people indiscriminately and ruthlessly.

Historically, GBM victims have had almost no hope at all. Now, for the first time, there seems to be a path available to some victims. 

I cannot write anymore today, because if I do, I will start weeping and screaming and thrashing about like somebody or something is tearing my soul in two.

John

PS – In addition to providing a link to the episode, the segment’s script is also posted.

PPS – On this 60 Minute segment Scott Pelley is the correspondent. Denise Schrier Cetta and Michael Radutzky, are producers.

60 Minutes Reports on Possible Brain Tumor Cure from … Polio (!?)

If you didn’t watch the 60 Minutes segment entitled “Killing Cancer” last night, you should. Here’s a link: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/polio-cancer-treatment-duke-university-60-minutes-scott-pelley/

 

The episode announces a new Glioblastoma treatment protocol developed at Duke University: infecting (injecting?) the tumor with polio.

What? Polio? One of the great diseases of the last century? Are you crazy? Well, as it turns out, a lot of people thought that Dr. Matthias Gromeier, who  came up with this idea, was truly crazy.

As I understand it, cancer is “invisible” to the body’s immune system and, as such, grows exponentially without the body’s natural defenses. Injecting polio both helps kill the disease and, at the same time, makes the body’s immune system aware of the cancer. Once aware, the body’s immune system attacks the cancer and seems to do more work in killing the tumor than the polio.

Importantly, the large polio molecules don’t seem to infect the brain (phew!).

This treatment protocol is in an early stage trial in which nobody expects a 100% batting average. But 60 Minutes reports that “So far there have been 22 patients in the polio trial. Eleven died. Most of them had the higher dose. But even so they lived months longer than expected. The other 11 continue to improve. Four are past six months which Duke calls "remission."

The show went on to say that “Dr. Darell Bigner is the head of the study and of Duke's Brain Tumor Center. He's been fighting brain cancer 50 years and he told us he has never seen results like those in patients Fritz Andersen and Stephanie Lipscomb. They lived months longer than expected. The other 11 continue to improve. Four are past six months which Duke calls ‘remission.’”

I can’t summarize this mesmerizing 60 Minutes segment in this blog. So go to this link and watch it yourself: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/polio-cancer-treatment-duke-university-60-minutes-scott-pelley/

*Pictured above: Dr. Matthias Gromeier, a molecular biologist who's been laboring over this therapy for 25 years and Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes