tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37680934103752740892024-02-19T04:34:54.577-06:00Vaxco PharmaceuticalsVaxco Pahrmaceuticals is an innovative pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of new vaccine therapy technologies for patients afflicted with cancer.Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-15573146453949122842009-04-14T15:34:00.004-05:002009-04-14T15:40:20.740-05:00Doctor's Note 03-31-09It is with sadness that I am reporting the passing of our patient and friend Kevin Brock. Kevin passed away February 18, 2009 at his home in Richmond Kansas with his parents and family members at his bedside.<br /><br />Kevin was initially diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2002, when he presented with a melanotic lesion in his left calf. After resection of this lesion he had a sentinel lymph node dissection in the left groin. Unfortunately he had lymph node involvement. Kevin spent a year receiving adjuvant therapy Alpha Interferon. He was disease free until June 2007 when he developed subcutaneous skin lesions in the neck and under the left axilla. These biopsies were positive for metastatic melanoma. In the ensuing months he received two different trials of chemotherapy, none of which worked. He developed rapidly progressive skin lesions throughout his body. As a last resort, the FDA allowed us to give Kevin our vaccine on a compassionate basis.<br /><br />Kevin is the first person to receive this vaccine. He started the vaccine therapies in March 2008. At that time, Kevin had five index lesions that were measured; these were all subcutaneous lesions (under the skin). Within two months of treatment four of the five lesions disappeared completely. The fifth lesion was excised and we found a hematoma (blood clot) and very little residual cancer. Kevin successfully completed two cycles of the vaccine treatment. He had very few side effects from the treatment. He did have some intermittent joint pain which responded to Aleve and Tylenol.<br /><br />Kevin developed new subcutaneous lesions within four months of completing his vaccine therapies. The recurrence was much more aggressive, and Kevin developed more than six nodules in one week. By October 2008, these lesions were rapidly progressive. After extensive discussion with Kevin and his family we decided to give the vaccine another try. Once again the vaccine was effective in controlling the older lesions. This time around despite vaccine therapy, new lesions were developing under the skin in various places of his body. It seemed like the vaccine was able to control the older lesions but not prevent the development of new lesions under the skin.<br /><br />I discussed alternative treatments, such as experimental clinical trials at other institutions. Kevin was tired and declined further treatments. Following the Christmas and New Year Holidays Kevin was admitted to the hospital. He received radiation treatment to some of the more painful subcutaneous lesions. An epidural catheter was placed in his back with a pump that would deliver pain medication continuously. He was then dismissed home to the care of his parents with Hospice support.<br /><br />With the experience of treating our first patient with the vaccine we have learned some valuable lessons. It appears the vaccine is well tolerated with very few side effects. Joint pain which is easily relieved with Aleve and Tylenol seems to be the only major side effect. In terms of efficacy and benefit of the vaccine, this would be too difficult to assess with one patient. However, Kevin did respond to the therapy, however briefly, and our future assessments may need to include a period of maintenance therapy with the vaccine. Kevin was a kind and courageous young man whose fight to find a cure for melanoma has already aided us in improving our treatment protocol and ultimately curing melanoma. Kevin will be missed. Listed below is Kevin’s biography (reproduced with permission).<br /><br />Kevin was born on May 13, 1976 in Garnett, Kansas, the son of Jerry and Marie (Peine) Brock. He graduated from Central Heights High School with the Class of 1994. Immediately following his graduation Kevin was a dedicated employee of Jarit Industries until 2003. After leaving Jarit Industries, Kevin was happily employed by Performance Electric until his death.<br /><br />Probably the best way to describe Kevin to those who were not lucky enough to have had the pleasure of knowing him would be to simply say that he was truly “special.” Kevin was dedicated to his family, to his work, and to his friends. He was one of those very rare people that just make everything better with their presence. Kevin’s coworkers have said that they enjoyed going to work simply because Kevin was there.<br /><br />Kevin measured himself not by how much money he made or how popular he was, but by the things that he did for others. On his list of priorities Kevin always placed himself behind his family and friends. If ever you were in need Kevin was there to lend a helping hand. From building a deck to finishing a basement, or even just an open ear Kevin could not say no. When Kevin’s help was enlisted it could be assured that anything he did was done right. Kevin took pride in the work that he did and would not stop until the job was completed to his satisfaction.<br /><br />Lazy was not a word that could be associated with Kevin. For him there was always another project that he volunteered to help complete. During his life Kevin was a metal worker, electrician and a plumber. No matter what the task before him Kevin would not stop until he had achieved his goal. Whether it was his epic battle with cancer or finding the solution to a problem which lay before him, Kevin was a fighter who always refused to quit. During his life Kevin had probably endured more pain than any three people combined but he never felt that his situation was unfair or felt pity for himself, he simply continued on no matter how bad it hurt.<br /><br />The foregoing paragraphs focus on Kevin’s work ethic, caringness and dedication. Although those sections may reveal the source of some of our admiration for Kevin, they do not tell a complete story of his life. Kevin’s greatest joys in his life were his family, friends and dog, Keisha. He especially enjoyed the time he spent with his nephews; for them a kinder, more caring and loving uncle could not have existed. One of Kevin’s joys in life was to provide homemade gifts for his family and friends. Kevin’s creativeness in developing these gifts and the method in which he gave them is beyond comprehension to those who have not been witness to the event. We will always have our cedar chests, toy boxes, lamps, etc. to remind us of him.<br /><br />Now that he is gone we are left only with those cherished memories we have made with Kevin while hunting, fishing, or just spending time with him. To those of you who knew Kevin, may your memories of him be long lasting and pleasant; to those of you who did not, just know that Kevin was truly “special.” This world is a lesser place without Kevin in it. Though his time has passed he has left his mark in the memories of those of us who were lucky enough to have known and loved him. Kevin, until we see you again please accept this small tribute to you and know that it does not do your memory justice.awesomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02098816107734369156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-67947142719338889862009-01-16T16:57:00.001-06:002009-01-31T09:23:21.372-06:00Doctor's Note January 16th, 2009<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Kevin had a good Christmas and New Year with his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Shortly after the New Year, he developed new subcutaneous nodules in both thighs and pelvis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are causing considerable pain, and making it difficult for him to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is undergoing radiation treatments to these sites of disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For pain, he has an implantable epidermal pump that is keeping the pain under control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kevin does not want to undergo any further therapies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kevin finished his vaccine therapies in November of 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>None of the old lesions have recurred, but he has multiple new subcutaneous lesions. The lesions in the pelvis and thigh are causing the most problems especially pain.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-58169735109030244272008-11-24T11:15:00.001-06:002008-11-24T11:21:10.888-06:00A note From The Dr. as of 10/01/08<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">With Kevin’s treatment with the melanoma vaccine, I have had a lot of inquiries about how our vaccine was developed and about how Kevin was screened to be our first candidate for the vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our vaccine project was one of many different areas of research I have been engaged in over the last twenty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In my graduate school training in immunology at the University of Kansas Medical Center (1977-1981) I was involved in studies looking at the immunology of cancer patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At that time, my research focused on aspects of the immune response when cells become cancerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Specifically, I was involved in deciphering receptors on the surface of immune cells that would interact with cancer cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My graduate thesis was a description of these receptors in patients with a type of blood cancer called Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Since my completion of graduate work, I continued to have an interest in the immunology of cancer as I proceeded through my medical school training and the post-graduate clinical training that ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After joining the faculty at the KU med center I started to investigate the topic of the immunology of cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was fascinated to learn that cancer patients had a completely intact immune system in most instances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The big question is why does cancer survive in the body in an environment where the body can recognize cancer cells? </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the clues turns out to be that the immune system is unable to find the cancer cell in the body simply because there are millions of normal good cells in the body, like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. I conducted a series of investigations looking to see if the immune cells could be taught to easily identify cancer cells and direct them to the process of elimination of these abnormal cells by inciting an army of other immune cells to be commandeered to the cancer site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Along the way I deciphered the various rules that the body had for activating the immune system to destroy the cancer cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the help of computer models we have been able to look at various proteins and peptides (short segments of proteins) that could be used in this activation process of the immune system to get an idea of what proteins would work in activating the immune system. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The reason for using a computer-based approach is that we can exhaustively test thousands of proteins and peptides without having to do the laboratory work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After narrowing our search down to a few potential proteins, we then tested these in animal models.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We used mice and subjected them to injections of cancer cells into their bellies and then challenged them with various vaccines that we developed based on our knowledge of their computer-based benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our results were startling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our experience with the animal model reflected our predictions based on our computer analysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Armed with this information we refined our vaccine and in our final testing, we found 19 out of 20 mice survived the cancer challenge when given our vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, when offered other vaccines they succumbed to the disease.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now we wanted to test this theory on patients, specifically those patients who had advanced melanoma and had exhausted all other treatment options including chemotherapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To offer the vaccine to our first patient required a lot of careful screening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because the vaccine had never been tested on a human being, we had to make sure all safeguards were in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This included approval by the Human Subjects Committee and approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use of this vaccine on a compassionate basis.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our first patient, Kevin, was no stranger to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kevin, now age 32, has been my patient for over ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When he was originally diagnosed with melanoma he had an abnormal mole in his left leg and he had surgery for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because this melanoma was aggressive, he also had a second operation that resulted in wide excision of the skin in the area of the mole.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Additionally, the surgeons dissected the groin area to remove lymph nodes from that site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately for Kevin, the melanoma had already spread to these groin lymph nodes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had advanced melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kevin received a drug called Interferon that had been shown to be beneficial for melanoma patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He spent an entire year receiving interferon injections every week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The treatments were not easy and he experienced many side effects including fever, chills and flu like symptoms.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With this treatment, however, Kevin was in complete remission and the remission lasted for ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unfortunately, in the last year Kevin developed multiple nodules under the skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Biopsy of a nodule showed that this was metastatic melanoma that had come back after ten years of being disease free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After extensive discussion with Kevin, we decided to proceed with chemotherapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kevin received six months of chemotherapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We evaluated the response to chemotherapy every two months.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Initially he did have a good response, but by the end of the six months of treatments, he had failed and was suffering many complications from the chemotherapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was losing weight, he was fatigued all the time to a point he could no longer work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had changes in taste and he had no appetite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had numbness and tingling in his hands and feet which is a side effect called peripheral neuropathy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After completing six months of chemotherapy, Kevin needed a break from treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He needed to recover some of his strength, improve his strength and stamina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>During this period, we worried about disease progression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Metastatic melanoma can spread to vital organs like the brain, liver, lungs and bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We immediately set about to look for another alternative to chemotherapy treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After exhaustive discussion and review, I thought that Kevin would be a good candidate for the melanoma vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kevin was also enthusiastic about trying the vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because of the experimental nature of the treatment, the treatment was offered to him at no cost.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kevin started his treatment on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The vaccine was administered by an intramuscular injection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The initial series of injections were given three times a week for two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At each clinic visit wee exhaustively queried Kevin about potential side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The intramuscular injections did cause some pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the day following the injections, he did experience some low-grade fevers and some flu-like symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He also experienced joint pain in the joints closest to the injections sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We rotated injections so that different limbs were used and the joint pain would follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With each injection we carefully measured the different tumor masses that we could feel under the skin. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kevin started with five lesions and three have disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The fourth lesion is continuing to shrink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The fifth lesion however, increased in size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was puzzling to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because this lesion was in the armpit and close to the skin, we asked Kevin’s surgeon to excise the lesion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The pathology on this lesion is now available.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The findings are that a large part of this lesion has necrosis (dead cells) and hemorrhage (bleeding).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Only a very small part of the lesion is occupied by melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our inference is that this lesion with melanoma was also responding to the vaccine therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The reason we believe it appeared to be enlarging was the hemorrhage and necrosis.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So far, all five of the index lesions with melanoma have responded to the vaccine therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kevin is continuing to undergo vaccine therapies, and we will provide further updates as they become available.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-18314407492612356022008-10-26T17:16:00.002-05:002008-10-26T17:57:01.295-05:00Sunday October 26Sorry its been so long it seems like its just been one thing after another first I had my surgery then I had my test and drinking that stuff for my catscan made me sick,then I got a real bad cold where I lost my voice for about a week,but I think I'm better now,for awhile anyway.<br /> I got all my test results back and they found some spots in my chest,neck,lymphnodes under my arm,and brain.The ones in my brain the doctor's not sure what they are because they are so small and they keep comming up and then going away.The scans show that the ones I already had have grown and all the ones under my skin that I can feel but the scans don't show have grown to.<br /> I was going to get to try to do treaments every other week,but since my scans came back like they did I am going to keep going once a week.The second batch of the drug that I got the doctor thought that if he froze the drug it would keep better,since all of my scans came back the way they did and all the ones under my skin have grown also I started last Thursday with a new batch and he is not going to freeze it this time,because in the begining when he did not freeze it ,it seemed to be working better.Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-88059511380965807022008-10-01T13:53:00.002-05:002008-10-01T13:57:20.253-05:00A Note from the Doctor as of: 09/21/08<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Kevin has been seeing us in clinic every week, and I have been monitoring his progress.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In general he has been tolerating the vaccine well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When he started his injections, he did complain of joint pain. Those symptoms have improved since the initial injections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Three of the five lesions have completely disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One is continuing to respond as it shrivels up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The fifth lesion has not responded and remains at the same size.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are planning to have this lesion removed to try to find out why it is not responding to the vaccine therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His headaches precede the diagnosis of melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have performed an MRI of his head and a lumbar puncture to analyze the spinal fluid.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Findings suggest he has no melanoma spreading to the brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is comforting to know that though Kevin continues to have intermittent headaches, they likely are not from melanoma spreading to the brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>We have also been analyzing antibody titers from his injections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The purpose of this is to determine how well his immune response is to the stimulation from vaccine injections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kevin has had an excellent response and his antibody titers are high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These antigens are what differentiate melanoma cells from healthy cells in the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The carrier molecule is a protein that is found only in crustaceans like crabs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Laboratory research showed this theory to be plausible, and the vaccine appears to be working for Kevin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Kevin has had CT Scans from head to foot looking to ensure that he does not have any internal organ involvement of his melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To date, his melanoma has remained only in areas under the skin that we can readily feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are encouraged by his response to the vaccine therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His response, so far, will be characterized as a partial response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With the removal of the fifth lesion, we will continue to monitor the fourth lesion in the hope that it too will disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Dr. Raj Sadasivan M.D., Ph.D.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Hope Cancer Institute, Inc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">4215 Shawnee Drive</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Kansas City, Kansas 66106</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Phone: 913-236-6986</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Fax: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>913-236-9681</p> <!--EndFragment-->Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-49027402817034909462008-09-11T16:32:00.002-05:002008-09-11T17:08:52.401-05:00Thursday September 11Last time I talked to you I was going to get a spinal tap and I did and everything came back good there are no cancer cells in my spine. I also did my MRI of the brain this last Saturday and just met with the doctor today and they only found one of the four spots in my brain and it is a little bit smaller than the previous scan so that is very good news. I have always had one tumor that has not responded to the treatment and has never shrunk and has slowly grown when the rest of them have either went away,shrunk or did not change so now the doctor wants me to have surgery to get it removed so I guess that is the next step.<br /> Tami and Rae it is always nice to hear from you since we never get to see each other its been along time,thanks for the thoughts and prayers.Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-70322701337114413832008-08-24T18:46:00.004-05:002008-08-24T19:34:10.620-05:00Sunday August 24I'm sorry its been so long since my last entry,but for awhile everything seemed to be going great and the doctor decided I would just do a booster shot every 3 months so there <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">was'nt</span></span> a whole lot to tell.Then when I was only A couple weeks away from getting my booster shot I found another spot and started having dizzy spells every so often.I then went and talked to the doctor and he decided to start treatments back up for once a week.A week or two after starting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">treaments</span></span> back up I found a couple more spots and the doctor decided to have me get an MRI to see what was causing my dizzy spells.When I got my results back they found a small spot on brain and then a month later they had me do another MRI and they found three more small spots,but they said they were so small that the scan could have missed them the first time.After a couple weeks into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">treaments</span></span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">have'nt</span></span> found any more new spots. He is going to have me do another MRI in a few weeks to see if any thing has changed.Since I am still having dizzy spells sometimes, this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">thursday</span></span> I'm going to go get a spinal tap to see if it is in my spine or not,so when I get the results back I will let you know as soon as possible.Again I'm sorry its been so long I will try to do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">alot</span></span> more updates.Thanks for all you support it means <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">alot</span></span> to me.Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-53339012561972454922008-08-14T09:47:00.001-05:002008-08-14T09:48:32.054-05:00UpdatesNew posts will be coming soon. Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-17775597040973150012008-05-30T12:20:00.002-05:002008-07-01T11:15:24.020-05:00Bulk of Treatments are Over<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Well, I have been waiting on one particular test to come back before I posted a blog, but I decided I would just post one.<span> </span>First order of business: thanks to everyone who came to the benefit auction in Richmond, it was a huge success.<span> </span>I had a great time, and I think everybody else had a little fun as well.<span> </span>It is a great help to my family and I, and as I move forward fighting this disease it will help in taking some of the financial pressures off my plate.<span> </span>I am amazed at the support our small town is able to offer and am truly and greatly appreciative.<span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span>The treatment is beginning to look more and more like a success.<span> </span>The bulk of the treatment is over, and I will begin receiving booster shots in about a month. My disease has stopped progressing altogether, as is evidenced by all of the different scans they have taken, and some of my tumors have actually shrunk and are beginning to shrivel up and disappear.<span> </span>I was having a new tumor develop every week or two before I began treatment.<span> </span>It has been about a month since I finished the bulk of the treatments, and I am able to work through the day, and have a social life again.<span> </span>When I stop being active at the end of the day, though, my body still gets sore and achy.<span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span><span>We are waiting on a test to see how my immune system is responding to the treatment.<span> </span>The greater the immune response, the less often I need booster shots.<span> </span>The hope is that my immune system has been sufficiently stimulated to continue fighting the disease even after the treatments are complete.<span> </span>It is similar to other vaccines in that booster shots are needed to keep the immune system “informed” of the disease’s presence.<span> </span></span></span></p></span>Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-58801330326094928872008-04-21T10:01:00.003-05:002008-04-21T10:05:46.716-05:00Second Week of Round TwoHello Everyone, <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The weekend has past and I am still trucking along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought each treatment had been treating me better than the first one that made me so sick this second round, but on Sunday it hit me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am still sore in my joints and achy in my muscles, but I have been able to sleep without night sweats and my skin doesn’t burn like it did last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Its weird, the night after I receive my treatments I get a bad headache and then I start feeling badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Today I still have a headache and my joints are sore, but I feel better than I did on chemo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had a treatment today and hopefully I will start feeling better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>On a more positive note, despite feeling sick, my disease seems to be in good shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No new tumors have shown up, and the tumors that I have haven’t progressed. On Friday we are going to measure to see if any of my tumors have shrunk, so I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thanks for your prayers and support; it definitely helps when I am feeling ill.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-4345769567822855302008-04-16T10:02:00.002-05:002008-04-16T10:13:46.327-05:00Another Round of Treatment<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hi it’s Kevin,<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate your support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am touched by the kind words of my friends, family, and my newfound extended family across the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To the people of Fredericktown, Ohio, you should be proud to be a part of such a strong community with such great people.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thank you so much for your support.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I have begun my second round of treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The treatment schedule is two rounds of treatment separated by a two-week break, and these past two weeks were my break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was able to work full time without being sore or exhausted for the first time in about ten months, and last week I felt better than I have for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Starting the second round of treatments has been tough.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The doctor said my body would react more harshly to its second exposure to the adjuvant, and he was right.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On Monday I received the first injection of my second round of treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By Monday evening my entire body was aching, my joints were sore, both knees and even my shoulders hurt, it was horrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My skin was warm to the touch, and was extremely tender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yesterday I felt a little better, but was still sore and achy all over; I felt just kinda crappy really. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Today I got my second injection and we will see how it goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will keep you updated.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768093410375274089.post-4410432364901576032008-04-02T09:35:00.011-05:002008-04-24T14:00:23.024-05:00Kevin Begins Treatment with an Experimental Melanoma Vaccine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_mjpK8hB9mq0h0yoY-YAS3q2Af2wNbr6ixeAVUY3OrUdhsHZw4qhoh58xNKMBHjtw7LP5zxhLKatDE9pgnH1KrcKcSgoIl53g6k7SMj535_xdLpIeIpnCBiiBTcHypY7LEFqq9hhngE/s1600-h/Kevin+Brock"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_mjpK8hB9mq0h0yoY-YAS3q2Af2wNbr6ixeAVUY3OrUdhsHZw4qhoh58xNKMBHjtw7LP5zxhLKatDE9pgnH1KrcKcSgoIl53g6k7SMj535_xdLpIeIpnCBiiBTcHypY7LEFqq9hhngE/s320/Kevin+Brock" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184670563175613026" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We at Vaxco Pharmaceuticals are excited to announce that we have commenced treatment with our vaccine against metastatic melanoma on a patient who has been fighting his disease now for eight years.<span> </span>To provide a support system for the patient and to keep the public informed we are maintaining this blog with updates regarding his progress and his experiences fighting melanoma.<span> </span>Kevin agreed to share his journey through this blog and through regular video interviews conducted internally here at Vaxco.<span> </span>Along with updating the blog, we hope to post clips from these interviews giving Kevin and his family a variety of avenues to share their story.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kevin was diagnosed with melanoma on April 28<sup>th</sup>, 2000 when he was only 24 years old.<span> </span>It was only three days later, on the first of March, that he underwent the first of many surgeries and began his battle with melanoma.<span> </span>Fighting his cancer with a multidisciplinary treatment of surgery and chemotherapy, including an intensive treatment with a drug called interferon, Kevin’s battle with cancer lead him on a long and difficult journey.<span> </span>Most recently Kevin, now 31 years old, began developing tumors sporadically just beneath his skin.<span> </span>After surgical resection of some of these tumors, Kevin again endured another regimen of chemotherapy only to find new tumors were rapidly continuing to develop.<span> </span>It was at this point that Dr. Raj Sadasivan, Kevin’s Oncologist, decided Kevin was failing conventional treatment options and suggested he take a less conventional route.<span> </span>This is Kevin’s story.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After Kevin stopped responding to conventional treatments, an alternative treatment plan had to be developed.<span> </span>It was suggested Kevin undergo experimental treatments with a new vaccine therapy that had been under development for twelve years, but had never been used on a human patient.<span> </span>Kevin and his family were at this point pressed with a very difficult decision.<span> </span>When alternative and experimental treatments are used, the outcomes are not fully understood.<span> </span>So, do they risk dealing with the unknown side effects of an experimental drug that may prove to have little or no benefit?<span> </span>If you are a member of Kevin’s family you do.<span> </span>It is not in their character to passively deal with anybody or anything, let alone Kevin’s life. Their bravery, love, and courage showed through in this difficult time.<span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On March 17<sup>th</sup>, 2008 Kevin became the first human to be treated with HCI001, a cancer vaccine developed by Dr. Raj Sadasivan.<span> </span>HCI001 is currently going through the application process to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials, but at this point HCI001 can only be used on a case by case, compassionate use basis.<span> </span>Approval for compassionate use is an avenue by which the FDA gives dying patients with serious illnesses access to experimental drugs that are in the vast pipelines of the pharmaceutical industry.<span> </span>In lab testing and mouse models the vaccine proved to be effective, but it is still unclear the way the vaccine will affect cancerous melanoma cells in the human body or the human body itself.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kevin’s first injection was received in his right upper-arm, and was administered at Hope Cancer Institute in Kansas City, KS.<span> </span>After all the excitement, nerves and uncertainty leading up to this moment, the first treatment was relatively uneventful.<span> </span>Other than the typical pain associated with an injection in his deltoid muscle, there were no immediately apparent adverse effects.<span> </span>When Kevin returned the following Wednesday, March 19<sup>th</sup>, he received a second injection, this time in his right deltoid.<span> </span>At the time of the second treatment, side effects were still unapparent, until Friday night March 21<sup>st</sup>.<span> </span>Kevin’s left elbow began to ache with a deep joint pain escalating to a point that Kevin had a difficult time moving his arm, and to Kevin’s chagrin, his family convinced him to contact Dr. Sadasivan for help. The pain subsided by the beginning of the week and he did experience similar pain in his right elbow on Monday, but this time the pain was much more tolerable. In his left elbow, the severity of pain was associated with his first treatment. A unique characteristic of the first treatment, Kevin recieved three different injections.<span> </span>The vaccine is actually mixed with an adjuvant, or a substance that enhances the effect of the vaccine, and this particular adjuvant is known to cause joint pain. For the initial treatment, one shot each of the vaccine and adjuvant were given in their pure form, and another shot was given with the vaccine-adjuvant solution.<span> </span>By using three separate injections, the staff at Hope Cancer Institute was able to monitor distinct reactions to the individual parts of the vaccine.<span> </span>Within the combination of these three injections given at the first treatment, Kevin received a double dose of adjuvant in his left deltoid which was responsible for the intensity of the pain in his left elbow. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13;"><span><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At the end of his first round of treatment, two weeks and six injections, Kevin is feeling “really well.” He is feeling well enough, in fact, to go back to work fulltime until he begins his second round of treatment in two weeks. The joint pain is no longer a problem, but Kevin did experience a mild skin irritation around the injection sites which has also begun to wane. Kevin says he would rather have some elbow pain and a rash than feel sick and exhausted from chemotherapy.<span> </span>As far as his progress with the treatment, he has had no new development of tumors and the tumors that were present at the onset of treatment are beginning to harden.<span> </span>These changes and his constantly improving quality of life have given Kevin and his family a certain amount of hope that this treatment may have benefit.<span> </span></span></span></span></div>Vaxco Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873157001803813019noreply@blogger.com27