Tag Archives: Immunotherapy for Cancer

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Treatment, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, Uncategorized

Is the Cost of R&D for Cancer Medications Overstated?

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Are Costs Overstated for Cancer Research?
Are Costs Overstated for Cancer Medication Research?

Significant research and development (R&D) costs are often the main reason cited for steep prices on cancer treatments. Surprisingly, a study centered on 10 new cancer drugs suggests that these costs may have been greatly overstated.

The True Costs of Cancer Treatment R&D?

Results of the study, which was recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine, determined that the R&D process for a new cancer drug usually spans seven years, with an average total cost between $648 million and $794 million.

On its face, the numbers are huge, but relatively small compared to the yardstick used by pharmaceutical companies. Their measure is the staggering figure of $2.7 billion per drug, which was determined by a Tufts University study in 2016.

Cost vs. Benefit

Even more revealing was the assessment of sales generated by the 10 drugs evaluated in the study. After an average of four years on the market, the drugs had a combined total of $67 billion in revenue, which is seven times more than the aggregate of the R&D costs.

As expected, members of the pharmaceutical industry are taking exception with the report. Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, took no official position but felt that the study would prompt wider discussion on the issue.

Integrative Cancer Immunotherapy Programs from Issels®

While cancer immunotherapy is a hot topic in the medical community, Issels® has been successfully using non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines for decades. Contact us for more information about our cancer centers in Santa Barbara, CA and Tijuana, Mexico.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Cancer Treatment, Cancer Vaccine, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, Immunotherapy for Cancer, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

Cancer Patients – The Struggle to Understand Clinical Trial Opportunities

Cancer Patients Can Struggle to Understand if a Clinical Trial is Right for Them
Cancer Patients Can Struggle to Understand if a Clinical Trial is Right for Them

Clinical trials are essential for continued development of immunotherapy and other cancer treatment methods. A recent study shows that while cancer patients recognize the importance of clinical trials, they lack the same understanding about the concepts behind the process.

What Is the Public Conception of Clinical Trials?

Oncologist Catherine Kelly of Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin led a study involving 1,090 cancer patients being treated in centers across Ireland. Kelly presented the results at the September meeting of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Madrid.

Despite the fact that more than 25 percent of the subjects had previously participated in clinical trials, misunderstanding of central concepts was widespread throughout the responses.

  • Nearly three-quarters of those who had never taken part in a clinical trial didn’t understand that the types of treatment are randomly assigned. Surprisingly, this also applied to more than half of the patients who had participated in trials.
  • Most patients didn’t understand the concept of clinical equipoise, in which no one knows which of the treatments being tested is better. With previous clinical trial participants, an astonishing 60 percent believed that their doctor knew which treatment was better.

Why Understanding of Clinical Trials Matters

Results of this study were consistent with those from earlier studies. Kelly pointed out the need for doctors to address these misconceptions that instill fear in patients, preventing them from participating in trials.

Issels®: Cancer Treatment that Meets the Test of Time

At Issels®, our cancer vaccines and other immunotherapy treatments are not trials. Contact us to learn more about our long-standing success with individually tailored cancer treatment protocols.

Cancer Treatment, Cancer Vaccine, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

What Can I Expect at the Issels Mexico In-Patient Hospital?

Do You Have Questions About What to Expect If You Come to Issels?
Do You Have Questions About What to Expect If You Come to Issels?

Cancer treatment is stressful and trying under the best of conditions. A first-class facility and caring staff can make a big difference in your peace of mind. Here’s an actual patient testimonial about her reassuring experience at our Issels® Mexico immunotherapy for cancer in-patient hospital.

“One Pleasant Surprise After Another”

Rita Possehl and her companion Teryl Springstead visited our Issels® Medical Center in Tijuana unsure of what to expect. The two were so satisfied with their experience that they wanted to share their recommendation with other potential patients.

“Caring and Considerate Staff”

One thing that immediately struck Rita and Teryl was the frequency of visits from staff members. The doctors stopped in at least once a day, and other staff members wore name tags and announced themselves each time they entered the room.

Ironically, it can sometimes be a challenge to get rest in a hospital room due to round-the-clock visits for vital sign checks. At Issels®, the checks begin around 8:00 AM and end around 10:00 PM so you can enjoy uninterrupted sleep.

“We Felt Pampered”

Rita and Teryl were impressed by how the staff worked to accommodate the wishes of both. For instance, the women were amazed to discover that Teryl’s dietary preferences were also honored along with Rita’s.

At the end of their stay, Rita and Teryl were pleased with the “warm, friendly staff” and “wholesome, delicious food” and recommended Issels® to other medical companions.

Quality Care at a Comfortable Location

Contact us to learn more about immunotherapy for cancer at our Issels® Medical Center in Tijuana, Mexico.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Cancer Survivors, Cancer Treatment, Cancer Vaccine, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

John McCain and Glioblastoma

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It's Time to Stop Cancer
It’s Time to Stop Cancer

Two years ago, then-Vice President Joe Biden was inspired by the death of his son to launch a “moonshot” campaign for cancer treatment research. Today, Sen. John McCain’s battle against brain cancer has once again turned a spotlight on the disease.

Vice-President Biden Joins the Fight Against Cancer

In May 2015, Biden’s eldest son Beau succumbed to glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The same disease claimed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in 2009.

Four months after his son’s death, Biden called off his expected run for the presidency in order to launch a campaign of a different sort. Biden and his advisors joined forces with the American Association for Cancer Research to ramp up the search for a cure.

Brain Cancer Remains in Public Awareness

Arizona Sen. John McCain, a one-time Presidential candidate himself, was diagnosed with glioblastoma this past July. The diagnosis added another layer of drama when McCain returned to Washington, D.C. a week later and cast the deciding vote against a proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Last month, McCain appeared on CNN’s State of the Union to discuss his illness. The senator told host Jake Tapper that he would be undergoing an MRI the following day, adding that advancements in cancer treatment gave hope for his prognosis.

State-of-the-Art Immunotherapy from Issels®

Researchers have been making astounding breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Issels® has long been a leader in the use of personally tailored immunotherapy programs to successfully treat patients with all forms of cancer.

Contact us for more information about our integrative, non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines and NK cells.

Cancer Treatment, Cancer Vaccine, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

3-D Printing Allows Doctors to “Practice” Cancer Surgery

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New Technology Helps to Train Doctors
New Technology Helps to Train Doctors

The classic med school model of practicing surgery on cadavers may soon be a thing of the past. Some doctors are now using 3-D printing models of patients’ organs as guides to improve outcomes of cancer treatment.

3-D Printing Improves Success of Prostate Cancer Treatment

While 3-D printing has been around since the mid-1980s, it’s just now coming into focus as a valuable tool for medical applications. One of the current pioneers of 3-D “surgery” is the USC Institute of Urology of Keck Medicine of USC.

Surgeons such as Dr. Inderbir Gill, executive director of the Institute, are using 3-D printed organs for patients with prostate cancer. The reproduction allows doctors to determine the precise location of tumors, which is virtually impossible to do during actual surgery.

Working with a 3-D model also helps surgeons reduce the risk of serious side effects that can occur during contact with areas surrounding the prostate. According to Dr. Gill, precision tools such as 3-D printing greatly improve the chances of completely removing the cancer.

Fine-Tuning Medication Dosage with 3-D Models

Another promising application of 3-D medical printing in cancer treatment involves the use of radiopharmaceuticals. Drugs containing radioactive material are administered to patients intravenously, orally, or placed inside a body cavity.

It’s challenging to determine a radiopharmaceutical dose that’s powerful enough to kill cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues as well. 3-D printing provides a vehicle to find the right balance.

Issels® Leads the Way in Non-Toxic Cancer Treatment

Our personally developed immunotherapy programs reduce the risk of harmful side effects found in traditional treatments. Contact us for more information.

Cancer Treatment, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

Synthetic Biomarkers May Aid in Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Early Treatment of Ovarian Cancer is Important

Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect in the early stages, resulting in poor survival rates for patients. MIT engineers have developed a synthetic biomarker that could detect ovarian tumors five months earlier than current testing methods.

Early Cancer Treatment of Ovarian Tumors

Five-year survival rates surpass 90 percent when ovarian cancer is detected early. Unfortunately, the disease is usually asymptomatic in the earlier stages. Any symptoms that do present tend to be non-specific, such as fatigue and weight loss.

Current testing looks for the presence of blood biomarkers produced by ovarian tumors, but it can take eight to 10 years for them to reach a high enough concentration to be detected. Ultrasound imaging reveals only tumors that are at least one centimeter in diameter.

Synthetic vs. Natural Biomarkers

Synthetic biomarkers are nanoparticles that interact with tumor proteins. The process releases fragments that can be detected in a patient’s urine, resulting in a more accurate test than one conducted on natural biomarkers in the bloodstream.

Professor Sangeeta Bhatia and her team at MIT engineered a synthetic biomarker to be approximately 15 times better than a previous version. The nanoparticle was then tested against a blood biomarker in mice with ovarian cancer.

The synthetic biomarker was able to detect ovarian cancer composed of tumors as small as two millimeters in diameter. Researchers are now testing the possibility of using this method with other types of cancer.

Personalized Cancer Treatment at Issels®

Every case of cancer is unique, so we use specialized testing to determine the best approach for each patient. Contact us for more information about our immunotherapy cancer treatment programs.