Cancer treatment, much like golf, is all about the follow-through. It is true that chemotherapy and surgery are important. However, it’s the maintenance therapies that keep people living for years and decades after their diagnoses.
Researchers presented findings in June to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago. They have found a degree of success with immunizations for multiple myeloma patients.
This immunization utilizes a peptide mixture (a chain of amino acids) that is used to fight Wilms tumors, cancer that starts in the kidneys. The study focused on people who have already had stem cell transplants and are at a high risk of relapses due to genetic factors.
Multiple myeloma is cancer that originates in plasma cells. The cancerous cells accumulate in the bone marrow and contribute to increased production of M proteins. Because the bone marrow becomes contaminated with myeloma, one of the most effective treatments is bone marrow transplant.
Typically, transplants come from donors. However, bone marrow and a few other transplants can be autologous, meaning the donor and the recipient are the same person. The use of the Wilms tumor immunization has only been tested on these autologous stem cell transplant recipients.
Thus far, the results are mixed as to the effectiveness of the immunization. However, patients who took part in the study were able to tolerate the immunization quite well.
With some tweaking to the formula, scientists are hopeful they can create a more beneficial effect.
If researchers are successful, this will be one more maintenance therapy available to those trying to prolong their health. Unfortunately, some individuals have success with one maintenance drug for a long time before a relapse comes back. That’s why it is so important to have more therapies available.