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Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
One exciting way to look at this is that if it worked with a measles virus, maybe it would work with another virus (mumps? or a chimpanzee virus,etc.).
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coachhoke - Name: coachhoke
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Apri 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 71
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
I read the full text of the research article a bit more thoroughly (it is posted by The Beacon at the beginning of this thread). The reason that the measles vaccine was chosen to be modified to attack myeloma cells is that, fortuitously, it attacks CD 46 glucoside molecules that are 'highly expressed' on the surfaces of myeloma cells (and by defn' B-lymphocytes). Thus the measles virus will selectively attack the myeloma cells.
Quote from the research paper:
'MV-NIS is a recombinant oncolytic measles virus (MV) derived from an attenuated Edmonston lineage vaccine strain (MV-Edm) that was adapted to grow on human cancer (HeLa) cells, then engineered to express the human thyroidal sodium iodide symporter (NIS) so that its in vivo spread can be noninvasively monitored by radioiodine single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)–computed tomography (CT) imaging.5 Measles is an enveloped lymphotropic paramyxovirus with a negative-sense RNA genome whose surface glycoproteins not only mediate the entry of the virus into susceptible target cells but also drive the fusion of infected cells with adjacent uninfected cells.6 Unlike naturally occurring measles, MV-Edm, and hence MV-NIS, targets CD46 as a cell-entry and cell-fusion receptor.5, 6, 7 CD46 is a ubiquitous complement regulatory protein that, fortuitously, is highly expressed on human myeloma cells, making them abnormally susceptible to MV-NIS infection, syncytium formation, and cell killing.'
Measles virus belongs to a genus of viruses called Morbilloviruses, and a family called paramyxovirus. The viruses in this group also can cause distemper in dogs, pneumonia and other highly infectious diseases.
Interesting that the MV-Edm virus was adapted to grow on HeLa cells. These are the cancer cells that were obtained originally (without permission) from a cancer patient in 1951 or so. They have been used as a 'cell line' ever since. In this way the cancer cells are 'immortal', i.e. a cell line is perpetuated by cell division indefinitely.
Also, the radioactive tracer of iodine was engineered into the virus! I think that this is awesome research, using several lines of thought to make the experiment...it is still very experimental of course.!
Quote from the research paper:
'MV-NIS is a recombinant oncolytic measles virus (MV) derived from an attenuated Edmonston lineage vaccine strain (MV-Edm) that was adapted to grow on human cancer (HeLa) cells, then engineered to express the human thyroidal sodium iodide symporter (NIS) so that its in vivo spread can be noninvasively monitored by radioiodine single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)–computed tomography (CT) imaging.5 Measles is an enveloped lymphotropic paramyxovirus with a negative-sense RNA genome whose surface glycoproteins not only mediate the entry of the virus into susceptible target cells but also drive the fusion of infected cells with adjacent uninfected cells.6 Unlike naturally occurring measles, MV-Edm, and hence MV-NIS, targets CD46 as a cell-entry and cell-fusion receptor.5, 6, 7 CD46 is a ubiquitous complement regulatory protein that, fortuitously, is highly expressed on human myeloma cells, making them abnormally susceptible to MV-NIS infection, syncytium formation, and cell killing.'
Measles virus belongs to a genus of viruses called Morbilloviruses, and a family called paramyxovirus. The viruses in this group also can cause distemper in dogs, pneumonia and other highly infectious diseases.
Interesting that the MV-Edm virus was adapted to grow on HeLa cells. These are the cancer cells that were obtained originally (without permission) from a cancer patient in 1951 or so. They have been used as a 'cell line' ever since. In this way the cancer cells are 'immortal', i.e. a cell line is perpetuated by cell division indefinitely.
Also, the radioactive tracer of iodine was engineered into the virus! I think that this is awesome research, using several lines of thought to make the experiment...it is still very experimental of course.!
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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
The way i took the article was the one lady was in remission for 9 months. That's not necessarily a cure (am I reading this article wrong?).
I'm not putting this discovery down, I'm just not sure its a cure.
I'm not putting this discovery down, I'm just not sure its a cure.
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marvin
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
No Marvin, not a cure just from this research! For one thing, as others have noted, the patients had NO immunity to measles, as shown by blood tests (serologically), so it wouldn't have widespread application in its present form. But I think one reason why this research got world wide coverage [it went 'viral'(!)], was that it showed a different mechanism of attacking cancer cells. The myeloma cancer cells were attacked by a modified virus, not a drug. It was a 'one shot' deal ... not a continuous therapy over time of drug treatments. Most people reading the articles wouldn't even know what myeloma was, other than it being a blood cancer. They just see that a cancer was attacked by a measles virus!
To see that a virus was put to use to fight cancer cells was what made the research very newsworthy. I hope that some therapy comes out of this that can be used by more myeloma patients.
To see that a virus was put to use to fight cancer cells was what made the research very newsworthy. I hope that some therapy comes out of this that can be used by more myeloma patients.
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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
I attended a "patient education conference' yesterday, and during a 'question and answer' session, cards upon which members of the audience wrote their queries were collected. Much to the amusement of the panel (which included Dr.'s James Berenson as the moderator, Thomas Martin, Amrita Krishnan and Robert Vescio) nineteen of these cards had questions about the measles vaccine 'cure' reported in Newsweek or wherever the questioner found it.
The first comment was that it was 'only one patient,' and far too soon to come to any conclusions about it. The second comment was to be careful about articles found in non-peer reviewed journals (and thank you, Myeloma Beacon staff, for giving us a link to the Mayo Clinic original source!).
The third, fourth, fifth ... shoot, the rest of the conversation ... was about the future of immune therapy, into which the 'measles cure' falls. They all four seemed to be hopeful that, even if the measles thing ends up being a 'one off' flash in the pan, that research into immunotherapy (T-cell) processes was very, very promising. The conclusion I reached was that doctors (at least these doctors, myeloma specialists all) were extremely cautious about the measles thing. They were considerably more optimistic about immunotherapy in general.
They didn't touch on details ... but there is going to be a recording of this conference available online soon, and I"m looking forward to viewing it and getting the stuff I missed. There was a LOT of information!!
The first comment was that it was 'only one patient,' and far too soon to come to any conclusions about it. The second comment was to be careful about articles found in non-peer reviewed journals (and thank you, Myeloma Beacon staff, for giving us a link to the Mayo Clinic original source!).
The third, fourth, fifth ... shoot, the rest of the conversation ... was about the future of immune therapy, into which the 'measles cure' falls. They all four seemed to be hopeful that, even if the measles thing ends up being a 'one off' flash in the pan, that research into immunotherapy (T-cell) processes was very, very promising. The conclusion I reached was that doctors (at least these doctors, myeloma specialists all) were extremely cautious about the measles thing. They were considerably more optimistic about immunotherapy in general.
They didn't touch on details ... but there is going to be a recording of this conference available online soon, and I"m looking forward to viewing it and getting the stuff I missed. There was a LOT of information!!
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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
Thanks for sharing about the Q&A period at the patient educ. conference, Diana! That must have been an interesting session! Good to know what the top experts 'spin' on the measles research is ... I have had three people mention this to me in the last two days. They are not in the myeloma support group either, just nice people I know who are concerned about my health! I guess we will all have to try to understand 'T-cell' immunity better now also!
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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
I read an article from USA Today that a woman who had myeloma for ten years was cured. In the article they stated that this woman was treated with a massive dose of the measles vaccine and she has been clear of the disease for over six months.
Can someone with more medical knowledge explain this procedure? Is it truly possible that this vaccine will be available to the public in the next four years, as stated in the article.
RagtopSL
Can someone with more medical knowledge explain this procedure? Is it truly possible that this vaccine will be available to the public in the next four years, as stated in the article.
RagtopSL
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RagtopSL - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1991
- Age at diagnosis: 41
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
Hi RagtopSL,
We've moved your question into this discussion thread for reasons that we think will be obvious ...
The USA Today article that RagtopSL referred to can be viewed here:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/15/measles-vaccine-cancer-mayo-clinic/9115363/
The article mentions at the end that "The Mayo is moving immediately into a phase two clinical trial involving more patients with a goal of FDA approval within four years."
We've moved your question into this discussion thread for reasons that we think will be obvious ...
The USA Today article that RagtopSL referred to can be viewed here:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/15/measles-vaccine-cancer-mayo-clinic/9115363/
The article mentions at the end that "The Mayo is moving immediately into a phase two clinical trial involving more patients with a goal of FDA approval within four years."
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
As a patient, it is difficult not to get excited about this stuff. Anything that gives you a glimmer of hope, whether taking curcumin, shiitake mushrooms, or engineered T-cells, is more than welcome.
There have been other stories in the past, of course, that have risen to similar headliner status. One would recall the T-cell engineered study from the Abramson Cancer Center a few years ago.
Yet, somewhere down the line, something goes amiss. Nonetheless, the bottom line here is that there is yet another possibly viable approach to treat myeloma. The more the better.
I think most of us that have been in this game for a while have come to terms that a cure may not materialize anytime soon. Frankly, I am OK with that as long as there are pills, vaccines, viruses or anything else that keeps me alive without kicking my a**.
I can only congratulate Dr. Stephen Russell and his team and extend my warmest thanks for his efforts. Wish him best of luck, and who knows, maybe I will be enrolling in Phase II of the measles trial over at Mayo. You never know.
Good luck to everyone.
There have been other stories in the past, of course, that have risen to similar headliner status. One would recall the T-cell engineered study from the Abramson Cancer Center a few years ago.
Yet, somewhere down the line, something goes amiss. Nonetheless, the bottom line here is that there is yet another possibly viable approach to treat myeloma. The more the better.
I think most of us that have been in this game for a while have come to terms that a cure may not materialize anytime soon. Frankly, I am OK with that as long as there are pills, vaccines, viruses or anything else that keeps me alive without kicking my a**.
I can only congratulate Dr. Stephen Russell and his team and extend my warmest thanks for his efforts. Wish him best of luck, and who knows, maybe I will be enrolling in Phase II of the measles trial over at Mayo. You never know.
Good luck to everyone.
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ivanm - Name: Ivan Mitev
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 37
Re: Mayo Clinic measles vaccine study
Hi Everyone,
I started reading the Mayo Cinic Paper and note that the "cured" patient needed radiation because one of her lesions started to grow back 9 months after the therapy.
"The scan in patient 1 showed substantial improvement in all 5 previously noted lesions. There was almost complete resolution of the FDG-avid soft tissue mass occupying the lytic lesion in the left frontal bone. Further, there was a considerable reduction of maximum standard uptake value in the lytic lesions in the right frontal bone, medial right clavicle, and sternum and resolution of the focus in vertebra T11. A repeated scan 6 months after therapy revealed minimal FDG uptake in the right frontal lesion and no discernible uptake in the remaining lesions. By 9 months after therapy, there was increasing FDG uptake in the right frontal lesion. Local radiotherapy was administered because the remainder of the skeletal lesions were FDG negative and on repeated bone marrow biopsy, results remained morphologically and immunophenotypically negative by flow cytometry. "
As was mentioned earlier it is important to read peer reviewed papers as opposed to articles in the general media and doctors making internet advertising videos. This is definitely exciting research, but blood cancer patients know better than to think a therapy is a cure when one patient was in remission for 9 months.
Mark
I started reading the Mayo Cinic Paper and note that the "cured" patient needed radiation because one of her lesions started to grow back 9 months after the therapy.
"The scan in patient 1 showed substantial improvement in all 5 previously noted lesions. There was almost complete resolution of the FDG-avid soft tissue mass occupying the lytic lesion in the left frontal bone. Further, there was a considerable reduction of maximum standard uptake value in the lytic lesions in the right frontal bone, medial right clavicle, and sternum and resolution of the focus in vertebra T11. A repeated scan 6 months after therapy revealed minimal FDG uptake in the right frontal lesion and no discernible uptake in the remaining lesions. By 9 months after therapy, there was increasing FDG uptake in the right frontal lesion. Local radiotherapy was administered because the remainder of the skeletal lesions were FDG negative and on repeated bone marrow biopsy, results remained morphologically and immunophenotypically negative by flow cytometry. "
As was mentioned earlier it is important to read peer reviewed papers as opposed to articles in the general media and doctors making internet advertising videos. This is definitely exciting research, but blood cancer patients know better than to think a therapy is a cure when one patient was in remission for 9 months.
Mark
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Mark
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