Kevin has been seeing us in clinic every week, and I have been monitoring his progress. In general he has been tolerating the vaccine well. When he started his injections, he did complain of joint pain. Those symptoms have improved since the initial injections. To measure the effect of the vaccine we have been monitoring 5 melanoma sites on Kevin’s body which are easily felt under the skin. Three of the five lesions have completely disappeared. One is continuing to respond as it shrivels up. The fifth lesion has not responded and remains at the same size. We are planning to have this lesion removed to try to find out why it is not responding to the vaccine therapy.
Kevin has returned to work and is able to do most of the activities required of him as an electrician, however, I have asked him to refrain from working on high platforms because of his intermittent headaches. His headaches precede the diagnosis of melanoma. We have performed an MRI of his head and a lumbar puncture to analyze the spinal fluid. Findings suggest he has no melanoma spreading to the brain. It is comforting to know that though Kevin continues to have intermittent headaches, they likely are not from melanoma spreading to the brain.
We have also been analyzing antibody titers from his injections. The purpose of this is to determine how well his immune response is to the stimulation from vaccine injections. Kevin has had an excellent response and his antibody titers are high. This means that Kevin’s vaccine injections are stimulating the immune system to respond by producing specific antibodies that are directed against antigens on the melanoma cells. These antigens are what differentiate melanoma cells from healthy cells in the body.
Our vaccine is produced by combining melanoma specific antigens with a carrier molecule so that the body’s immune system will recognize it as foreign. The carrier molecule is a protein that is found only in crustaceans like crabs. This allows the body to recognize these proteins as foreign and in the process produce an antibody response that will cross-react with the melanoma antigens that have been coupled to this foreign protein. Laboratory research showed this theory to be plausible, and the vaccine appears to be working for Kevin.
Kevin has had CT Scans from head to foot looking to ensure that he does not have any internal organ involvement of his melanoma. To date, his melanoma has remained only in areas under the skin that we can readily feel. We are encouraged by his response to the vaccine therapy. His response, so far, will be characterized as a partial response. With the removal of the fifth lesion, we will continue to monitor the fourth lesion in the hope that it too will disappear.
Dr. Raj Sadasivan M.D., Ph.D.
Hope Cancer Institute, Inc.
4215 Shawnee Drive
Kansas City, Kansas 66106
Phone: 913-236-6986
Fax: 913-236-9681
3 comments:
I am glad to hear from your doctor regarding your progress. I pray that the surgery goes smooth for you and your family. It just goes to show that the power of prayer can help. I pray that at the end of this treatment you are clean and stay that way. Keep your spirits and just remember that we all love and pray for you daily
I agree with what Rae said!! As you know our thoughts & preyer are with you & family. It was nice to hear that the doc. to know that things are going well. Let us know what the out come after surgery. Love ya Tami
Great to hear from Dr. Raj! Thank God for him and his dedication to finding a cure to melanoma. My Prayers are still...and ALWAYS with you, Kevin, and your family, (and also with Dr. Raj and his continued research).
May God Bless you all!
Beth Grogg
Fredericktown, OH
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