The Mayo Clinic has published the results of a proof-of-principle study testing whether a re-engineered version of the measles virus can fight multiple myeloma. The study involved just two patients; both were no longer responding to other myeloma therapies.
Both patients responded to the treatment, with one of the two patients exhibiting a prolonged response.
The Mayo press release regarding the study is available here at The Beacon:
https://myelomabeacon.org/pr/2014/05/14/mayo-clinic-measles-virus-multiple-myeloma/
The full text of the study is available online (free of charge) at the following link:
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(14)00332-2/fulltext
Forums
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
I think that this study is quite brilliant in design. The use of radioactive iodine as a tracer on the measles modified viruses allowed the researchers to pinpoint where the viruses went, which were to the timor areas. That is similar to a scan using radioactive dye.
The two patients in the study were not previously exposed to measles, as shown serologically. I suppose this means that they had not been vaccinated against measles either?
Radioactive iodine at stronger levels is used in cancer treatments, especially thyroid cancer, and I also can see online references to its use in other cancers, so it seems logical to test it for treatment of myeloma in future studies (planned in combination with the modified measles virus)
Isn't this an interesting way to describe myeloma cells...
'Multiple myeloma (multiple myeloma) is a malignancy of terminally differentiated plasma cells that diffusely infiltrate the bone marrow as well as form skeletal and/or soft tissue plasmacytomas (focal lesions). '
Does the term 'terminally differentiated' refer to the fact that myeloma cells do not on their own undergo mitosis, and have to be produced from stem cells?? I wasn't aware of that, but it also seems to make sense.
The two patients in the study were not previously exposed to measles, as shown serologically. I suppose this means that they had not been vaccinated against measles either?
Radioactive iodine at stronger levels is used in cancer treatments, especially thyroid cancer, and I also can see online references to its use in other cancers, so it seems logical to test it for treatment of myeloma in future studies (planned in combination with the modified measles virus)
Isn't this an interesting way to describe myeloma cells...
'Multiple myeloma (multiple myeloma) is a malignancy of terminally differentiated plasma cells that diffusely infiltrate the bone marrow as well as form skeletal and/or soft tissue plasmacytomas (focal lesions). '
Does the term 'terminally differentiated' refer to the fact that myeloma cells do not on their own undergo mitosis, and have to be produced from stem cells?? I wasn't aware of that, but it also seems to make sense.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
It makes me wonder that if someone has just gotten a stem cell transplant and will need to get a measles vaccination about a year after the transplant, should they forego the measles vaccination in hopes that this treatment becomes available sometime soon?
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DallasGG - Name: Kent
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/20/2013
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
That's what I was wondering too. Of course, I did get all my vaccinations after my transplant, and right now, there is actually a measles epidemic in my area and all un- vaccinated persons are being urged to get vaccinated!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
This is so exciting! Thanks to the Beacon for sharing this!
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Matt's Wife
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
You might find this to be an interesting, additional read on the topic (very easy to understand).
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/15/are-viruses-the-next-cure-for-cancer.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/15/are-viruses-the-next-cure-for-cancer.html
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
This news story turned out to be really well reported by major news outlets! When you read this article, what stands out to me is that the woman who successfully had the measles treatment had absolutely no immunity to measles, and that is rare. I hope she does well into the future too! I don't understand why she didn't also get really sick with actual measles...do you think it was an attenuated virus?
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
Wow! You guys must read this article. This patient was completely cured of multiple myeloma with the measles vaccine. They gave her a dosage of 10 million times a regular dose for one person. This was done at the Mayo Clinic, one of the best for multiple myeloma research. This has been all over the TV news. I suggest you Google and read other articles about this. I think this could be the cure for us. Let me know what you think.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-vaccine-appears-to-wipe-out-cancer-cells-in-study/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-vaccine-appears-to-wipe-out-cancer-cells-in-study/
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GeorgeLJurak - Name: George Jurak
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan. 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
Yeah, yeah....but the vast majority of multiple myeloma patients, given the average age at which we are diagnosed, have had the measles. Not simply been 'vaccinated against,' but had the actual disease, lumps and all.
If the requirement for having this work is that the patient has not been exposed to the disease either through vaccination or through contracting it, 95% of us are SOL. I certainly am, since the measles nearly killed me when I was 8.
Call me Sally Skeptical, but one patient does not a miracle cure make: I'll wait to see if this can be repeated, and if 'they' can make it work on folks who have already been exposed to measles, before I start jumping for joy.
....but....wouldn't it be neat if one day the standard cure for multiple myeloma is an SCT (to destroy the immune system) followed by a gigantic measles shot....and on our way? I'd take that.
Won't hold my nose, but hey, it's a nice fantasy.
If the requirement for having this work is that the patient has not been exposed to the disease either through vaccination or through contracting it, 95% of us are SOL. I certainly am, since the measles nearly killed me when I was 8.
Call me Sally Skeptical, but one patient does not a miracle cure make: I'll wait to see if this can be repeated, and if 'they' can make it work on folks who have already been exposed to measles, before I start jumping for joy.
....but....wouldn't it be neat if one day the standard cure for multiple myeloma is an SCT (to destroy the immune system) followed by a gigantic measles shot....and on our way? I'd take that.
Won't hold my nose, but hey, it's a nice fantasy.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
Yeah, Dianaiad hit the nail on the head (I was so excited when I first read this, but realized a few minutes later that the process could never apply to me). I bet that 100% of those reading this thread on this forum have either had the measles or have been vaccinated against it.
Brilliant science nonetheless ... and hopefully the idea can be used to develop some sort of engineered virus (or find another common virus) that can be used on the general multiple myeloma population.
Brilliant science nonetheless ... and hopefully the idea can be used to develop some sort of engineered virus (or find another common virus) that can be used on the general multiple myeloma population.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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