Lymphoma Drug Failure Frustrates Experts

AP via MyWay News ^ | 4/30/07 | Lauran Neergaard

[verum ago]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Only a fraction of patients with hard-to-treat lymphoma ever try two breakthrough "smart-bomb" drugs that bring radiation straight to cancerous cells - with just two shots a week apart, not the usual months of care. The marketing failure has a manufacturer trying to sell off one of the drugs, and increasingly frustrated specialists worry it will jeopardize attempts to expand this promising new field to fight other cancers, too.

[SNIP]

The issue: Despite research showing they work well, fewer than 10 percent of lymphoma patients who are candidates for Zevalin and Bexxar ever use them, says Dr. Mark Kaminski of the University of Michigan, a hematologist who co-invented Bexxar.

[verum ago]

just found this interesting that people are avoiding a couple of effective cancer drugs

"It's called radioimmunotherapy, harnessing homing device-like immune cells - antibodies - with a radioactive drug."

*sigh*- another journalism major enters the workforce

[verum ago]

"another journalism major enters the workforce"

I think I unintentionally plagiarized that from an old Dilbert cartoon. oops. Credit where credit's due...

[GeorgiaBushie]

I have a brother scheduled for this treatment in late June.
He was diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulenemia, a type of lymphoma, late last year.

He has been through one round of chemotherapy with Rituxan, it was given as his only option at the time due to congestive heart failure and other on going medical problems. Doctor’s felt that was the only course.

Also, my brother has not described the radioimmunotherapy as a walk in the park. He is expecting to be off his feet and ill for several weeks after the treatment.

Has bone marrow harvested and stored in the event he will need it later on.

Oh, he is also hopeful that this will help.

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[dawn53]

The title is inaccurate too. The drug hasn’t failed. Marketing of the drug has failed.

[verum ago]

I wish your brother the best

[Clara Lou]

Best wishes for your brother’s health.

[wouldntbprudent]

This is just sad, on many levels.

[wouldntbprudent]

This is just sad, on many levels.

[BlueAngel]

Best wishes to your brother.

I have a cousin who is fighting Cancer of the tongue. She wasted valuable time and lots of money trying natural remedies and is now, finally, trying Chemo. It has moved into her lungs and now her neck. She never smoked and it started as a small, black spot on her tongue. She has two young children and is fighting to keep going.