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Mayo Clinic Reports Dramatic Outcomes In Prostate Cancer Treatment

Zorglub writes "Two prostate cancer patients who had been told their condition was inoperable are now cancer-free as the result of an experimental therapy, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester announced Friday. 'Cancer has a propensity for turning off T cells. Dr. Allison hypothesized that if you block the off-switch, T cells will stay turned on and create a prolonged immune response. Dr. Kwon, then at NIH, demonstrated that CTLA-4 blockage could be used to treat aggressive forms of prostate cancer in mice. There was one limitation to that concept — the worry that by simply leaving all the T cells on there may not be enough response aimed at the tumor. Dr. Kwon called Dr. Allison and designed the trial together. The idea: use androgen ablation or hormone therapy to ignite an immune approach — a pilot light — and then, after a short interval of hormone therapy, introduce an anti-CTLA-4 antibody that acts like gasoline to this pilot light and overwhelms the cancer cells.' After the treatment, the patients' tumors shrunk to such a degree that they could be successfully removed."

4 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Nice analogy by metalhed77 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The idea: use androgen ablation or hormone therapy to ignite an immune approach â" a pilot light â" and then, after a short interval of hormone therapy, introduce an anti-CTLA-4 antibody that acts like gasoline to this pilot light and overwhelms the cancer cells.

    Fry: Usually on the show, they came up with a complicated plan, then explained it with a simple analogy.
    Leela: Hmmm... If we can re-route engine power through the primary weapons and configure them to Melllvar's frequency, that should overload his electro-quantum structure.
    Bender: Like putting too much air in a balloon!
    Fry: Of course! It's all so simple!

    --
    Photos.
  2. Mayo Clinic is falling behind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Miracle Whip Clinic announced a similar breakthrough last year and they did it with much more tang.

  3. Re:Hmmmm by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...the trash we call "food"

    On the plus side, the contents of all those Hot Pockets, Cheetos, and Twinkies will help preserve my cancer ridden corpse for centuries.
    I just hope no joker poses me in an undignified position.

  4. Re:Good news... by Mauzl · · Score: 4, Funny

    Your statement combined with your signature is rather disturbing...