Cary

You beat me to it Dave I just read this article before coming here and was going to post it. I wish i would have known this information 2 years ago when my father had his surgery. Thanks for the info Dave. (I usually don't post much but I follow everyones posts and I just needed to show off my new no smoking Avitar LOL ) Cary

This is an article of current drugs in the pipeline that hold some promise for the treatment of Lung Cancer. Cary Several new drugs that take specific aim at cancer cells are showing early promise in small clinical trials, although the results are preliminary and offer no guarantee that the drugs will ever reach the market. Unlike ordinary chemotherapy, which kills many healthy cells as well as tumor cells, these new drugs are designed to defuse tumors directly without harming other tissue. Few of these drugs, however, have yet been tested in the most rigorous way possible, involving large trials of hundreds of patients who are randomly assigned to receive either the drug or a placebo. That said, these midstage "phase II" trials can provide early hints as to whether a drug works or not, helping companies decide whether to spend millions of dollars on larger phase III tests that can take years to complete. The results were reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. Telik Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., said preliminary data on its experimental drug Telcyta showed that it shrank tumors in three of 20 advanced breast cancer patients and at least stabilized tumor growth in a total of seven patients. Telcyta is a small molecule "prodrug" that is cut into toxic pieces by an enzyme generally present only in cancer cells. Telik has also tested the drug in ovarian, colon and lung cancer. A phase III trial of the drug is already under way, and the company is preparing to launch a similar large trial in lung cancer as well. Seattle Genetics Inc. said its experimental drug SGN 15 appeared to slow the progress of lung cancer tumors in preliminary results from 62 patients. The Seattle based company's drug, which combines a traditional chemotherapy drug with an antibody designed to stick to the surface of cancer cells, aims to carry the toxic drug directly to tumors, concentrating its killing power. When tested in combination with Taxotere, a traditional chemotherapy agent, SGN 15 appeared to stall cancer for an average of 15.3 weeks as opposed to 7.4 weeks in patients who received only chemotherapy. In a presentation over the weekend, Amgen Inc. and Abgenix Inc. said their experimental drug ABX EGF showed some ability to control colon cancer. At the end of eight weeks of treatment, four of 40 patients saw their tumors shrink by at least half, and cancer had stabilized in a total of 22 patients. ABX EGF targets a growth related protein on the surface of cancer cells, much like Iressa from AstraZeneca PLC and Erbitux from ImClone Systems Inc. Genentech Inc. and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. said their own drug in that class, Tarceva, showed very early promise in treating brain cancer, which is difficult to treat with drugs. In a phase I trial of 49 patients, eight saw their tumors shrink by half or more. In separate news, Amgen reported over the weekend that its experimental drug Palifermin reduces the likelihood of oral mucositis, or severe mouth ulcerations, in chemotherapy patients. See some of the cancer treatments in the pipeline: Drug Type of Cancer Company Status ABX-EGF lung, colorectal Abgenix Trials are ongoing. Interim Phase II results in May 2003 indicated promise as an antitumor drug. Arimdex breast AstraZeneca Received FDA approval March 2002 Avastin colon, breast, lung Genentech Study presented June 1, 2003 showed 45% of patients saw tumors shrink by at least half when used with chemotherapy. Eloxatin colon, rectum Sanofi-Synthelabo Received FDA approval August 2002. Erbitux head and neck, lung, colorectal ImClone ImClone got a boost after clinical trial results presented this weekend confirm exciting results of two years ago. Faslodex breast IPR Received FDA approval April 2002. Gleevec leukemia Novartis Received FDA approval February 2002. Iressa lung AstraZeneca Is FDA approved to treat advanced lung cancer in some patients, but recent trial data show promise for treating other cancers, including brain, colorectal, breast, and head and neck. Velcade multiple myeloma Millennium Pharmaceuticals Approved May 2003 Neovastat kidney, lung Aeterna Laboratories Undergoing widespread human testing, a final phase before application for regulatory approval. SU11248 leukemia Pharmacia/Sugen Early stage testing. SU5416 colorectal Pharmacia/Sugen Pharmacia halted late-stage clinical trials on the much-hyped cancer medicine after investigators found the drug, which is similar to Avastin, to be ineffective in extending survival rates for late-stage cancer patients. Tarceva lung, pancreatic OSI Pharmaceuticals Is being tested in clinical trials, including a combined treatment with Avastin. Xyotax lung, ovarian Cell Therapeutics Is in late stage clinical trials. Zamyl leukemia Protein Design Labs Was shown to be of limited usefulness in a large study of 191 patients. The company is convinced Zamyl has "possible therapeutic activity," and said it will seek out partners to continue the drug's development. Zometa prostate, bone Novartis Received FDA approval February 2002 for new application. A later study showed Zometa to be an effective treatment of bone complications related to prostate cancer.

You can also contact the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer center at 1-800-865-1125 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.ET to have them help locate a physician near you who is willing to prescribe Tetrathiomolybdate the drug is also known as TM. It is a very promising drug that actually inhibits at least 4 major growth factors(through your low copper levels) where Iressa is blocking 1. TM is entering Phase III trials at the end of this year and they are looking for FDA approval to be within the next 2 to 3 years. Cary

Hi I am glad your wife is doing well I originally posted this a few weeks ago. My father is currently doing this treatment and has had great results. If you need any additional info just let me know. Cary www.copperreduction.com http://www.cancerprotocol.com/about.html http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/c ... full/6/1/1

my father used cox-2 inhibitors through most of his last 6 rounds of chemo and had no complications. We personally never told his oncologist about this. I am not advocating lying or even going against your oncologist but sometimes they are stuck in the past and are unwilling to move forward. I would do some research and present it to him at you next appointment and if he still doesn't agree i would make your own decision since some of the cox-2 inhibitor family are available over the counter. Cary

My Father has recurrent adenocarcinoma(originally diagnosed April 2001) Taxol/Carboplatin, lower right lobe removed, and radiation. All scans were supposedly clear until DEC 2002.(actually read the old scan reports and they had watched it grow but did not inform us) He was given 2-4 months in DEC 2002, he had 10-15 smaller tumors in each lung(around 1 cm each) and 2-3 larger ones(2.5-3cm each)and last but not least the 3-4cm tumor pushing on his aorta. he started taxotere and the first 2 rounds he got extremely low white counts and almost ended up in the hospital. So after researching we talked to the oncologist and he agreed to do low dose taxotere and the oncologist stated that this treatment was becoming the norm at most places if requested(40% a week for 3 weeks and the 4th week off) and my father started a few other treatments at the same time TM (tetrathiomolybdate)copper protocol. surprisingly, his Medicare HMO had no problem with any of this and picked up all his weekly blood tests and then the test become only monthly once you are stabilized(for his copper program). He just finished his 6th round of chemo on the 7th of may. He only has very small tumors left, So now the copper reduction should hold them in place and also over time shrink them completely. I stumbled upon the cancer protocol site after I had already pieced my fathers treatment together on my own. http://www.cancerprotocol.com/about.html and then i also found the www.copperreduction.com They are both great site and have lots of useful info on low dose chemo and the copper protocol, and is basically the same as my fathers treatment with a few adjustments. I hope all this helps, There are quite a few docs on the east coast doing these treatments and a few on the west coast also. You may have problems with your doctor prescribing TM but I think from what I have heard from others on this subject is that they have no problems with their doctors performing the blood tests, the doctors just don't want to prescribe the medicine. here is the link to the clinical trial results of the copper reduction drug TM he is currently using. http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/c ... full/6/1/1 Tetrathiomolybdate is the drugs name and you can do a Google search on your own of the drug. It is not currently FDA approved(2 years) but there are doctors prescribing it and you can get it filled at certain pharmacies. It is roughly $200 a month for the prescription then as you adjust your dose and take less, naturally the price per month goes down (my father is at $90 a month) The only thing I cannot fully understand is Lung Cancer Victims never do these treatments. whenever i contact someone about this treatment I am always the first lung cancer caregiver to contact them. I find that so amazing. At the cancer protocol site i mention they want me to submit my fathers bio and become a contact in case anyone else with lung cancer shows up there and needs help or questions answered. they have been around for 2 years and i am the first to show up this amazes me. I am not sure if this is because people with lung cancer are ashamed or fell they deserve the disease (which they don't). I do know a lot of other people using this therapy for their cancer(not lung cancer). And last but not least, I am not a doctor and these are just my opinions and/or personal experiences If you or anyone else has any questions or needs any additional help please feel free to ask, I'll be more than happy to help. Cary

Yes my father is using the drug, and has had amzing results. Is there a trial scheduled for Lung Cancer? If not you can get it on your own with a prescription from your/a doctor. Have you done a search with google to find the other sites about this drug? I would be happy to help you with any additional info. chemo sometimes can and does cause heart problems for some people, you should really have your dad tell his Onc right away. here are a couple of websites talking about the use of TM. Cary http://www.copperreduction.com/index.html http://www.cancerprotocol.com/about.html

I believe they hold the patent on that drug for a certain amount of years to recoup the cost the FDA requires for the expensive and exhaustive approval process. the drug companies would be out of business if generics could be made right away. then there would be no new drugs, because there would be no money for research or any incentive(profits) . Maybe they could extend the patents and lower the prices, but then again could you trust the drug companies to actually lower their prices. So it is kinda a double edged sword (there is another word i am looking for like circular logic or something). Its just stupid, how about that Cary

This list was up to date in January, most the clinics will help you to locate a treatment facility closer to you if one exists. DR. SEWELL: THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI 601-815-3983 DR. KEN MURPHY: SEWNE UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY SYRACUSE, NY CONTACT: 315-464-7439 (DOROTHY MORSE, RN) MORSED@UPSTATE.EDU (LUNG & LIVER RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION) DR. SCOTT FOSTO & DR. GREGORY GRAVES: SUTTE GENERAL HOSPITAL SACRAMENTO, CA CONTACT: 916-454-6905 (MARY FORANS, OFFICE MANAGER) 2800 L. STREET SUITE 2000 SACRAMENTO, CA 95816 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. MURRY ASH: UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO TORONTO, CANADA CONTACT: 416-586-5186 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. STEVE ROSE: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA CONTACT: 619-543-7964 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. MARK LE QUIRE: BAPTIST EAST HOSPITAL MONTGOMERY, AL CONTACT: 334-244-8398 (WANDA FIELDS, RN) OR 334-288-4624 (OFFICE) (LIVER RFA ONLY) DR. JASON DOREY: BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER MONTGOMERY, AL CONTACT: 334-277-5695 JASONHDOREY@CS.COM (LUNG RFA) DR. RON ZAGORIA: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY WINSTON-SALEM, NC CONTACT: 336-716-2471 (MAUREEN) (LUNG, LIVER, BONE & KIDNEY RFA) DR. BERNARDO REBEIL: CARONDELET ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL TUCSON, AZ CONTACT: 520-740-6017 JREBEIL@AOL.COM (LUNG, LIVER & BONE RFA) DR. DAN BROWN: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MALLINCKRODT INS***UTE OF RADIOLOGY-ST. LOUIS, MO CONTACT: 314-362-2900 (LIVER & BONE RFA) DR. BLAIR CORNELL: CARITAS MEDICAL CENTER LOUISVILLE, KY CONTACT: 502-361-6764 BLAIRCORNELL@INSIGHTBB.COM (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. CHARLIE NUTTING: GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL P***NIX, AZ CONTACT: 602-239-4689 CHAZWE@AOL.COM (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. KEN STOKES: INTEGRIS BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER OKLAHOMA CITY, OK CONTACT: 405-945-4232 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. AUBREY PALESTRANT: DEER VALLEY HOSPITAL P***NIX, AZ CONTACT: 602-200-9339 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. BRUCE LIN: RUSH COPLEY MEDICAL CENTER NAPERVILLE, IL CONTACT: 630-499-2491 BLINMD@HOTMAIL.COM (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. MICHAEL COHN: MEMORIAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER HOLLYWOOD, FL CONTACT: 954-986-6317 MCOHN02@WORLDNET.ATT.NET (LUNG, LIVER, BONE & KIDNEY RFA)

Not directly related to lung cancer YET. I'll give you the Cliff Notes version in case you don't want to read the whole article "Given that tumor-inducing cells now have been identified in breast and blood cancers, Wicha and Clarke believe it is likely that similar cells drive the development of other types of cancer, as well. The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center is establishing a new research program to identify stem cells in other cancers and develop new therapies to destroy them" Seems promising probably 5-10 years down the road though, but still good news. Maybe i can start smoking again Cary ANN ARBOR, MI - Of all the neoplastic cells in human breast cancers, only a small minority - perhaps as few as one in 100 - appear to be capable of forming new malignant tumors, according to just-published research by scientists in the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The discovery could help researchers zero in on the most dangerous cancer cells to develop new, more effective treatments. Jay Alix, founder of AlixPartners, LLC and managing principal of Questor Partners, has announced targeted pledges of seven million dollars through the University Cancer Foundation (UCF) to underwrite the costs of a special cancer stem cell center at UMCCC to concentrate on this paradigm shift in cancer research. Alix is co-leading this funding effort along with Michigan businessmen Steven Radom, Gilbert "Buzz" Silverman and David V. Johnson in conjunction with the entire UCF organization. An additional $5 million will be sought to reach an eventual $12 million goal. "These tumor-inducing cells have many of the properties of stem cells," says Michael Clarke, M.D., a U-M professor of internal medicine, who directed the study. "They make copies of themselves - a process called self-renewal - and produce all the other kinds of cells in the original tumor." Although similar cells have been identified in human leukemia, these are the first to be found in solid tumors, Clarke adds. The cells were isolated from primary or metastatic breast cancers removed from nine women treated for cancer at the U-M's Cancer Center. Alix comments, "This exciting research will be pivotal in the way physicians treat breast cancer. The University Cancer Foundation's involvement in this funding will accelerate research for the successful treatment of cancer patients and could ultimately lead to a cure that will save many lives." The discovery - reported this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - also may explain why current treatments for metastatic breast cancer often fail, says Max S. Wicha, M.D., an oncologist and director of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. This image shows cancer stem cells isolated from human breast cancers by U-M scientists. Photo credit: Courtesy of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "The goal of all our existing therapies has been to kill as many cells within the tumor as possible," Wicha says. "This study suggests that the current model may not be getting us anywhere, because we have been targeting the wrong cells with the wrong treatments. Instead, we need to develop drugs targeted at the tumor's stem cells. If we are to have any real cures in advanced breast cancer, it will be absolutely necessary to eliminate these cells. "What this means for women with cancer is that, for the first time, we can define what we believe are the important cells - the cells which determine whether the cancer will come back or be cured," Wicha adds. "Before this, we didn't even know there were such cells." All cancer cells have a unique pattern of proteins, similar to a fingerprint, on their surface membranes, explains Muhammad Al-Hajj, Ph.D., a U-M post-doctoral fellow and first author of the PNAS paper. " We used specific antibodies and flow cytometry technology to segregate the phenotypically heterogenous cancer cells within a tumor into isolated populations based on their surface protein markers," Al-Hajj says. This image shows cells from human breast cancers which have lost the ability to spread and form tumors. Photo credit: Muhammad Al-Hajj, University of Michigan. Courtesy of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. These isolated cell populations were then individually injected into immune-deficient mice and the mice were examined for tumor growth every week for up to six months. Al-Hajj found a small group of cells, with a phenotype common to all but one of the human tumors in the study, could form new cancers in mice. These cells all expressed a protein marker called CD44, in addition to having either very low levels or no levels of a marker called CD24. "As few as 100 to 200 of these tumor-inducing cells, isolated from eight of nine tumors in the study, easily formed tumors in mice, while tens of thousands of the other cancer cells from the original tumor failed to do so," Clarke says. The fact that tumor-inducing stem cells from eight of nine women showed a common surface marker pattern is significant, Wicha explains. "Even though it's only nine patients, it shows that the markers identifying these stem cells were expressed in the majority of breast cancer patients in the study. This may not be the only expression pattern on every patient's stem cells, but it demonstrates the validity of the cancer stem cell model." To test the stem cell's ability to regenerate the original tumor, U-M scientists repeated the experiment up to four times. First, 200 cells with the unique two-marker surface pattern were isolated from the original human tumor. When these cells produced a breast tumor in a mouse, Al-Hajj removed the mouse tumor and used flow cytometry to isolate 200 stem cells from it. These cells were then injected into another mouse to produce another tumor. Once again, the tumor was harvested, stem cells were separated, and injected into another mouse. Each procedure is called a passage. "Tumor cells with this particular surface marker pattern produced a new tumor in the next generation of mouse every time," Clarke explains. "When we examined the tumors after each passage, we found their cell diversity to be the same as the original tumor." Given that tumor-inducing cells now have been identified in breast and blood cancers, Wicha and Clarke believe it is likely that similar cells drive the development of other types of cancer, as well. The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center is establishing a new research program to identify stem cells in other cancers and develop new therapies to destroy them. "What we are working on now is finding out what makes these tumor stem cells different from the other cells in a tumor," Wicha says. "Now that we can actually identify them, we can start developing treatments to specifically target and hopefully eliminate them." "This is not a cure for cancer," Clarke emphasizes. "But it is a very promising lead, which will focus our efforts to try to find a cure for cancer." In addition to Al-Hajj, Wicha and Clarke, Sean J. Morrison, Ph.D., a Howard Hughes Medical Institute assistant investigator and U-M assistant professor of internal medicine, is a collaborator in the research study. The U-M study was funded by the National Cancer Institute. The U-M has applied for a patent on the identity and function of tumor stem cells. Special notes on this release Editors: Color .jpg images of tumor stem cells are available on request. Special notes on this release Though promising, this research is still in the animal testing stage. Additional research will be needed before this research progresses to the point where it could benefit breast cancer patients. For more information on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, call the Cancer AnswerLine at 1-800-865-1125 or visit them online at https://www.cancer.med.umich.edu:8080/forms/calfrm.htm Written by: Sally Pobojewski E-mail this information to a friend Recent Press Releases search this site Help with Searching

Welcome Ashley, From what I have just read it seems like it works fairly well when combined with chemo. It seems to have an increased rate of serious side effects when compared to basic standard chemo. But in my opinion preventing angiogenesis is crucial in stopping the cancer from growing, once chemo has shrunk it. There are a lot of less toxic ways of doing the same thing as bevacizumab, but it is a good start. Best of Luck, Cary Targeting VEGF In lung cancer, the largest clinical experience has been reported for bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody. Phase 1 trials have demonstrated its safety and, because of the long half-life observed, weekly intravenous doses of 5-15 mg/kg were recommended for further study. A randomized phase 2 trial that evaluated the combination of paclitaxel/carboplatin alone or with bevacizumab at either 5 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg was conducted.[12,13] The objective response rates were higher in the 2 groups receiving bevacizumab, whether the response was scored by the investigator or by an independent review panel. Time to progression (TTP) was longer in the bevacizumab groups, with the longest TTP in the high-dose group. Survival was also longest in the high-dose bevacizumab group, but it was longer than expected from historical controls in all groups. This might be attributed to the fact that the patients in the chemotherapy-alone group were allowed to cross over to receive antibody at the time of progression. The study was complicated by the unexpected development of a severe, and occasionally lethal toxicity, pulmonary hemorrhage. There were 6 deaths from this complication in the bevacizumab-treated groups, but none in the chemotherapy-alone group. This complication was more frequent in patients with central tumors, especially tumors of squamous cell histology. The results of this trial led the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) to institute a randomized phase 3 trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin alone with paclitaxel/carboplatin plus high-dose bevacizumab. This trial is currently in progress. Unexpected bleeding problems have also been observed with several small VEGF receptor-directed TKIs. Clinical trials with one of these agents, SU5461, were discontinued due to lack of efficacy, but phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials with most of the other agents listed above are continued

If you are unable to get into a clinical trial why not try low dose chemo. You can use the same drugs a previously used, since low dose works in a different way than traditional chemo. Taxotere seems to be a little better than the others. http://www.cancerprotocol.com/index.html Cary

Staten Island University Hospital is performing radiosurgery on any tumor from head to toe. I knew this would be happening in the future but did not realize it would be quite so soon. This should really help alot of people who for one reason or another are unable to undergo traditional surgery or radiation. Its quite lengthy but well worth the read. Cary Staten Island University Hospital - Radiosurgery has been performed for the treatment of brain tumors for decades. Staten Island University Hospital has led the way with refined development of non-invasive techniques for Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery treating benign and malignant tumors. Results are superior for many tumors - benign and malignant - with better maintenance of function, less complications and lesser need for subsequent intervention, in general. Data from Staten Island University Hospital presented at the most recent ASTRO - the national radiation oncologists’ meeting - reported development of new equipment allowing for fractionated, non-invasive treatment below the brain and skull. Staten Island University Hospital have expanded Body Radiosurgery to become an attractive, highly successful program for primary and metastatic cancers. Now the basis of this technology - Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery - can be used for cancers located most anywhere in the body - from head to toe. Body Radiosurgery is not surgery. In fact, the name ‘radiosurgery’ is a misnomer. Body Radiosurgery is pinpoint precision radiation using multiple, finely-contoured beams from many different angles - all directed at the cancer minimizing radiation to normal healthy tissue while the patient’s body is maintained in a stable, reproducible position. The attractiveness of this non-invasive technique is that is can be used when surgery, standard radiation and chemotherapy are not viable options or have not produced the desired results. Body Radiosurgery can be implemented in those patients who desire a non-invasive treatment alternative that has great effectiveness in selected situations. Because Body Radiosurgery is so precise, higher than normal doses of radiation can be given over a shorter period of time. Since higher radiation doses can be given, fewer treatments are necessary compared to standard external beam radiation, yet results are superior. In fact, recent analysis shows Body Radiosurgery is superior to direct isotope infusion into organs such as the pancreas. It is easy to see the attractiveness of normal tissue protection. Since normal healthy structures are shielded, higher doses of radiation can be delivered to the cancer with anticipation of greater success. Some cancers are poorly treated by conventional radiation or chemotherapeutic means. These include metastases to sites as the lungs, abdominal cavity, mediastinum, retroperitoneal, liver and elsewhere. Primary liver cancers - like hepatomas - pancreatic cancers and lung cancers are frequently suitable for Body Radiosurgery. Other cancers, too numerous to list, have been successfully treated with Body Radiosurgery at Staten Island University Hospital. Body Radiosurgery can be contemplated even when standard radiation has already been performed. Body Radiosurgery is often used as a ‘boost’ after conventional or standard radiation to increase the dose and improve control of the primary cancer. Most all radiation oncologists (whether they are familiar with Body Radiosurgery or not) believe that higher radiation doses will provide greater cancer control. The vast majority of cancers treated at Staten Island University Hospital (primary as well as metastatic) are treated successfully in the targeted area - meaning cessation of growth, shrinkage or disappearance of the cancer. Some cancers were treated only with Body Radiosurgery while others had extensive prior surgery, chemotherapy and/or standard radiation therapy. Body Radiosurgery offers a second or third chance for many patients - especially when there are limited sites of disease. How is Body Radiosurgery Performed? Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery at Staten Island University Hospital is based upon years of experience and thousands having undergone Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Indeed more than ten thousand stereotactic radiosurgery procedures have been performed at Staten Island University Hospital over many years. Techniques developed and refined at Staten Island University Hospital allow us to precisely and reliably stabilize the body painlessly and non-invasively with an external frame of reference. This allows cancer localization for computerized treatment planning. Fine cut CT and MRI scans are performed with the patient in the stereotactic body frame to define the tumor in relation to this external frame of reference. Each body radiosurgery frame is custom-fit to insure maximum degree of precision localization. Once localized, physicians, physicists and dosimetrists using state-of-the-art dedicated computers select beams of radiation tightly tailored to attack the cancer while minimizing effects on the normal, healthy surrounding tissues. This means that radiation will be much better tolerated with superior outcomes than standard therapy even though we give higher treatment doses. This ultimate three-dimensional radiation is part of our daily armamentarium. It is a technique with which we are most comfortable and perform repeatedly every day and every night for patients who come from around the country and throughout the world. As part of the stereotactic body frame custom fitted individually for each patient small tattoos are placed over four strategic locations to help confirm the accuracy of set-up. Multiple quality assurance steps at each point verify and re-verify the accuracy and precision of stereotactic Body Radiosurgery. High resolution CT and/or MRI scans with the patient in the fiducial-marked stereotactic body frame are performed to facilitate our skilled staff’s ability to localize the cancer and perform Body Radiosurgery. Fiducial markers located within the stereotactic frame help precisely guide us to the target. Following the CT and/or MRI scanning, there is a double-check of each step for quality assurance. Once we are confident of the precision of Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery for each individual patient, Body Radiosurgery is performed. Body Radiosurgery treatment lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes depending on the complexity of treatment. Staten Island University Hospital uses up to ten customized radiation fields all directed from different angles and all finely collimated to attack an individual cancer minimizing dose to the normal, healthy surrounding tissue. Each beam is custom-contoured for the patient’s cancer with unique shape and direction implemented to especially exclude normal, healthy tissue beyond the tumor as much as possible. The Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery Center physicians at Staten Island University Hospital typically administer five treatments. Treatments may be administered once-a-day, alternative days or even once a week. The schedule is made with our physicians based upon experience for your individual situation. One important aspect of Body Radiosurgery is that it is much quicker overall than standard external beam radiation, chemotherapy or surgery and their associated convalescence period. Body Radiosurgery often compares very favorably to chemotherapy, surgery or even standard radiation. Body Radiosurgery is totally non-intrusive, certainly less toxic and consumes much less time than other competing modalities of treatment for those selected candidates. Compared to surgery, there is the avoidance of anesthesia, operative risks as well as hospitalization and convalescence. Body Radiosurgery patients generally are able to immediately continue their normal activities. Body Radiosurgery is performed as outpatient therapy. The Concept of Body Radiosurgery The principle of Body Radiosurgery is precise non-invasive delivery of high radiation doses to the cancer while normal healthy surrounding tissues are, in general, spared the effects of the radiation beam. This is in marked contrast to standard radiation which is much less able to protect normal tissues from radiation effects. Data collected with thousands of procedures being performed continue to show marked efficacy for primary and metastatic cancer treatment. Frequently these cancers were considered to be untreatable by other modalities or to have treatment approaches that were much less promising. Cancers treated include primary tumors and metastases to the following: a.. neck b.. lung c.. breast d.. melanoma e.. liver f.. abdomen g.. kidney h.. pancreas i.. prostate j.. mediastinum k.. spine and extremities l.. and many others Each case, of course, is unique but a vast array of types of cancers including adenocarcinomas, squamous carcinomas, lung cancers, breast cancer, germ cell tumors, primary liver tumors, pancreas tumors, colon cancers, sarcomas, melanomas, renal cell, metastatic and primary head and neck cancers and others have been successfully treated and are included in ongoing data evaluation. The Results... Patients have ranged in age from 23 to 86, with a mean age of 60 years. Volume of tumors treated range from the very small (less than a cubic centimeter) to more than 5,000 cubic centimeters (cc) with a mean volume of 284cc. A typical patient receives five treatments with up to ten pinpoint radiosurgery fields per treatment. The entire cancer site is treated at each of five sessions. Currently, 37% of patients treated had cancers in the lung with 45% of those primary lung cancers and 55% metastatic cancers to the lung. Another large category includes liver cancers with 90% being metastases and 10% primary liver cancers. Despite patients often, but not always, being heavily pre-treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, 88% of patients are alive one year from the time Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery was initiated. Many patients were so-called "hopeless cases" before coming to Staten Island University Hospital. Some come to Staten Island University Hospital insisting on Body Radiosurgery only - wishing not to receive any standard therapy. Of course, each patient ultimately decides what treatment is best suited to one’s own unique concerns, needs and desires. Primary Liver Cancers Primary liver cancers are malignancies that commence within the liver itself. Body Radiosurgery has been successfully implemented over the years for hepatocellular and other primary liver cancers. Body Radiosurgery for primary liver tumors such as hepatocellular carcinomas, cholangiocarcinoma, gall bladder cancers have been successfully treated with excellent results. Most patients unfortunately cannot undergo surgical resection of their primary liver cancer. We, at this time, do not seek to replace surgery with Body Radiosurgery. Our techniques should be viewed as a viable option for those unable or unwilling to have surgery. In fact, many patients come to us after being considered for surgery elsewhere and refused or were found to be inoperable at the time of surgery. The control rate of primary liver tumors is equal - over 90% - to the success in other areas of Body Radiosurgery. Liver Metastases Liver metastases are cancers that have spread to the liver from other primary sites. Primary cancers in this category include from lung, breast, pancreas, gall bladder, melanoma, sarcoma and colon amongst others and have been treated using body radiosurgery. We have a success rate of 95%. The beauty of Body Radiosurgery is that it can be repeated, if necessary, perhaps with a higher dose for even greater expected outcome. Primary Lung Carcinomas Another attractiveness of Body Radiosurgery is that primary lung cancers can be treated with this technique minimizing harm to the healthy normal lung yet delivering higher doses of radiation. Many patients with lung cancers have chronic pulmonary obstruction disease and have limitations of respiratory function. Because stereotactic radiosurgery minimizes the adverse effects to the healthy normal lung, one anticipates a better outcome using this pinpoint precision technique. We have seen quick and dramatic shrinkage of many patients’ lung cancers. Body Radiosurgery can be used alone or in combination after external beam radiation to boost the radiation dose to enhance success of treatment. Pulmonary or Lung Metastases Lung metastases are cancer nodules that have spread to the lung from other primary sites. Pulmonary or lung metastases have been treated with Body Radiosurgery across the spectrum in size ranging from the small to the large. Most common origins include head and neck cancers, melanoma, renal cell, breast, sarcoma, gastro-intestinal, pancreas, liver, germ cell cancers, thyroid, and other primaries. The local control rate remains well in excess of 90%. An attribute of Body Radiosurgery is that tumors both large and small can be treated with this technique, in general, leaving the healthy normal lung intact. Many patients come to us with severe lung disease not felt to be candidates for standard surgery or radiation and yet, are followed after radiosurgery with good success observed, most commonly. Primary Pancreas Cancers Primary pancreas cancers have been treated with a very high rate of success. In fact, over 99% of primary pancreas cancers currently have been successfully controlled in the treated area at Staten Island University Hospital with Body Radiosurgery. We have recently analyzed Body Radiosurgery in comparison to infusion of radioactive P32 and found Body Radiosurgery superior. We had no local failures compared to a local failure rate of 29% with P32 infusion into the pancreas cancer. Furthermore, the size of the cancers treated with Body Radiosurgery were - on average - three times the size and still we had a dramatically higher success rate. This should speak to the power of Body Radiosurgery for pancreas and indeed, many primary and metastatic cancers even located in delicate parts of the body. Our technique may be performed at time of original diagnosis, with or without chemotherapy and if necessary, in the case of recurrence after standard therapy. Prostate Cancers Prostate cancers have been a very special interest of the radiosurgery group at Staten Island University Hospital. In fact, a whole information package is devoted to comparing our technique to surgery and other forms of radiosurgery. Body Radiosurgery can be implemented after prostate seed implantation for maximum effectiveness of local treatment. Prostate seeds allow high doses to be delivered to the prostate while Body Radiosurgery consolidates the radiation to the prostate and the immediate surrounding tissues. We compare exceedingly favorably to surgical or non-surgical radiation treatment with an excellent quality of life after treatment, in general. We are proud to compare our results to conformal radiation, standard radiation and radical prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence is nearly never an issue and the majority maintain sexual function. Please see our Prostate Cancer page for further information. Other Abdominal Tumors In the abdominal cavity, we treat primary and metastatic cancers. Abdominal cancers range the gamut from colon, germ cell, melanoma, ovarian, thyroid, kidney, pancreas, sarcoma and others. Size range is broad from the very small to the very large with the overwhelmingly majority of cancers showing cessation of growth, shrinkage or complete disappearance. In general, as post-treatment benefit is carried over further months and years, the likelihood of greater shrinkage increases greatly. And more.... Other tumors including sarcoma and lung and breast cancers have been treated with this modality at Staten Island University Hospital. Selected patients with recurrent Hodgkin’s lymphoma have been treated after prior unsuccessful cancer therapy. It is best to speak directly with our physicians about your individual case for the most up-to-date information. Studies Shows Effectiveness of Body Radiosurgery Studies have shown the effectiveness of Body Radiosurgery in treating both primary as well as metastases. The appeal of radiosurgery is that very high doses of radiation are precisely delivered with minimal effects to normal healthy tissues. We update our data regularly and track each case to have a complete record of Body Radiosurgery. This is important for our academic work and for patients and their families to be able to possess as much information as possible before making such a crucial decision about one’s medical care. Who Should Be Evaluated For Body Radiosurgery? Patients desiring a fresh, second opinion about whether their cancer can be successfully treated should contact our physicians directly or send in their films for review and analysis at our Body Radiosurgery Conference. Many patients with cancers who cannot be treated successfully using standard therapy or those with cancers that have recurred despite standard chemotherapy, surgery or radiation may wish to inquire about Body Radiosurgery. Also, those wishing this innovative therapy as a boost radiation dose (after standard radiation) to increase chances of local control and overall success should be motivated to investigate Body Radiosurgery by contacting our physicians at Staten Island University Hospital. With our technology, Staten Island University Hospital now has the ability to treat cancers extending from the head to the toe using sophisticated non-invasive techniques. Those interested in Body Radiosurgery are asked to send relevant information and pertinent radiographic studies - especially CT scans and/or MRI scans - to our Radiosurgery Center for review. Each week our Body Radiosurgery Conference meets to review candidates for Body Radiosurgery as well as previously treated body radiosurgery patients who send in new films for review. There, the multi-disciplinary team reviews each patient’s case and determines the best treatment method. If the patient is felt to be an appropriate candidate and wishes to proceed, the Informed Consent process is continued, fully explaining all risks, benefits and alternatives. We encourage those interested in Body Radiosurgery to inquire. We believe our staff has the greatest experience in the western hemisphere and probably worldwide. A fresh, second opinion may well benefit you. Since Body Radiosurgery is so revolutionary, our experts are best informed about the usefulness of this new technology for you or your loved one. We’re happy to speak to your physicians, if you wish. The multi-disciplinary panel of expert physicians examines pathology, CT scans and clinical history. Patients considered most suitable for this technique are invited in for consultation. During consultation a complete history, physical examination, newer films (if they exist), pathology and other records are re-reviewed. There are monthly regular seminars concerning Body Radiosurgery at Staten Island University Hospital for those wishing to meet with our physicians in an informal setting and learn about the history, success and relevance of Body Radiosurgery for themselves. For those wishing to know more about the possibility of Body Radiosurgery, the best chance is to directly inquire. Our physicians will provide advice and treatment options which we believe best serve the patient. Our radiosurgery work continues to be evaluated and updated by our research group and our current results are presented at national and international meetings as well as published in major medical journals. For physicians, we have established The Society of Body Radiosurgery to inform and educate about this important advance in the field of oncology. Staten Island University Hospital is the home of the Journal of Radiosurgery - the only peer-reviewed medical journal dedicated to the field of radiosurgery. The editor is Gil Lederman, M.D. For more information on Fractionated Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery and other innovative treatment methods, for a free videotape and information packet or to register for one of our monthly Body Radiosurgery seminars please contact The Radiosurgery Center at Staten Island University Hospital at 1-800-285-4584 or email us. Related Articles: Advances In Pancreas Cancer Radiosurgery For Kidney Cancer In And Beyond The Brain How To Decrease The Incidence Of Mortality Of Colon Cancer New Approaches in Pancreatic Cancer Use of Radiation in Lung Cancer Patients Supraclavicular Lymph Node Involvement in lung Cancer Body Radiosurgery For Lung Cancer Hypofractionated Body Stereotactic Radiosurgery (BSR) Hypofractionated Body Radiosurgery (HBR) As Treatment Of Primary Pancreas Cancers Body Stereotactic Radiosurgery (BSR) For Primary Extracranial Tumors Body Stereotactic Radiosurgery (BSR) For Extracranial Metastases Innovative Treatment For Pancreas Cancers Advances in Treatment of Inoperative Lung Cancer Fractionated Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery At SIUH Body Radiosurgery Treatment Procedure Body Radiosurgery Results

Wow you are quite lucky to be located so close. Do a search for Dr. George J. Brewer or Tetrathiomolybdate. Dr. Brewer from the University of Michigan was creator of this Drug. Maybe your father would qualify for a trial, or they can recommend a doctor who would prescribe it for you as was my fathers case. Best of Luck, Cary

i saw a post in the alternative forum from Lainy on 714x.

I believe black cohosh only has a negative effect if your on chemotherapy and then should be avoided due to toxicity issues. Cary Black Cohosh May Make Breast Cancer Drug More Toxic NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with breast cancer (news - web sites) who are undergoing chemotherapy may want to avoid black cohosh, the herbal remedy often used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, according to Connecticut researchers. In a new study of laboratory-grown breast cancer cells, the herb seemed to increase the toxicity of the commonly used chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and docetaxel (Taxotere), but not a third, cisplatin. "We saw this with three different commercial black cohosh extracts," said Dr. Sara Rockwell of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. The suggestion that black cohosh may make these anticancer drugs more potent than they already are could be "a good thing or a bad thing," Rockwell said. "If this were an effect just on the tumor cells, that would be a good thing because it would mean you get more antitumor effect for a person on black cohosh," she said. "On the other hand, Adriamycin is used in doses that are nearly toxic -- it wipes out the bone marrow and is very close to the limit of heart toxicity. A substantial number of patients treated with Adriamycin show serious heart injury after treatment and if black cohosh increased that it could make this drug lethal." More research is needed to determine if this is true for patients -- results in laboratory cells may not mimic what happens in the body, a much more complex situation compared with a carefully controlled experiment. Rockwell's team focused their studies on black cohosh because they noticed that many women who went off hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when they were diagnosed with breast cancer began taking this particular herb during chemotherapy and radiation therapy. "Many women assume that black cohosh is a safe and effective natural remedy for menopausal symptoms," she told Reuters Health. But how it interacts with other drugs is unclear. Rockwell's team grew breast cancer cells in culture and then exposed them to black cohosh at concentrations found in products on the drug store shelf. Then, in separate experiments, they exposed the cells to radiation or to three drugs commonly used to treat breast cancer -- Adriamycin, Taxotere, and cisplatin. In the radiation experiment, they saw no changes in the breast cancer cells. "Black cohosh did not change the response of the breast cancer cells to the radiation," Rockwell said. And the remedy did not influence laboratory-grown breast cancer cells in the absence of chemotherapy drugs, or affect the growth of breast cancer tumors in mice fed the herbal remedy. "Up to 80% of cancer patients may be taking one or more vitamins, minerals, or herbs," Rockwell said. "Many of these agents are not well standardized and they are not regulated by FDA (news - web sites)." The findings were scheduled to be presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research's 94th Annual Meeting in Toronto, but meeting planners canceled the event citing growing concern about cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the city.

Hi, I just recieved this email from the private forum i'm on, There are other places in the US that are using the new cytoluminescent therapy. If you email me I'll send you the rest of the emails. I forgot to mention Dr. Moss belongs to my email Group, he also used the copper reduction therapy to treat his cancer. bostton1@comcast.net Cary Just getting to all my e-mails after a couple of weeks. I Haven't had a chance to read all of them yet, but I notice there are a number of items on PDT. My relatives in Ireland sent me a e-mail with a video clip of a "Primetime" investigation of the East Clinic in Killaloe, Ireland. While there are many respected clinics/hospitals offering this treatment, the clinic in Ireland is not one of them. Drs. Porter and Carmody seem to have a very shady operation going on there. For those of you interested in watching the 1/2 hour program, the link is as follows http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0204/primet ... me56_1a.rm">http://www.r\te.ie/news/2003/0204/primetime/primetime56_1a.rm

This should be a pretty complete list. DR. SEWELL: THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI 601-815-3983 DR. KEN MURPHY: SEWNE UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY SYRACUSE, NY CONTACT: 315-464-7439 (DOROTHY MORSE, RN) MORSED@UPSTATE.EDU (LUNG & LIVER RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION) DR. SCOTT FOSTO & DR. GREGORY GRAVES: SUTTE GENERAL HOSPITAL SACRAMENTO, CA CONTACT: 916-454-6905 (MARY FORANS, OFFICE MANAGER) 2800 L. STREET SUITE 2000 SACRAMENTO, CA 95816 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. MURRY ASH: UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO TORONTO, CANADA CONTACT: 416-586-5186 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. STEVE ROSE: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA CONTACT: 619-543-7964 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. MARK LE QUIRE: BAPTIST EAST HOSPITAL MONTGOMERY, AL CONTACT: 334-244-8398 (WANDA FIELDS, RN) OR 334-288-4624 (OFFICE) (LIVER RFA ONLY) DR. JASON DOREY: BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER MONTGOMERY, AL CONTACT: 334-277-5695 JASONHDOREY@CS.COM (LUNG RFA) DR. RON ZAGORIA: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY WINSTON-SALEM, NC CONTACT: 336-716-2471 (MAUREEN) (LUNG, LIVER, BONE & KIDNEY RFA) DR. BERNARDO REBEIL: CARONDELET ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL TUCSON, AZ CONTACT: 520-740-6017 JREBEIL@AOL.COM (LUNG, LIVER & BONE RFA) DR. DAN BROWN: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MALLINCKRODT INS***UTE OF RADIOLOGY-ST. LOUIS, MO CONTACT: 314-362-2900 (LIVER & BONE RFA) DR. BLAIR CORNELL: CARITAS MEDICAL CENTER LOUISVILLE, KY CONTACT: 502-361-6764 BLAIRCORNELL@INSIGHTBB.COM (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. CHARLIE NUTTING: GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL P***NIX, AZ CONTACT: 602-239-4689 CHAZWE@AOL.COM (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. KEN STOKES: INTEGRIS BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER OKLAHOMA CITY, OK CONTACT: 405-945-4232 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. AUBREY PALESTRANT: DEER VALLEY HOSPITAL P***NIX, AZ CONTACT: 602-200-9339 (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. BRUCE LIN: RUSH COPLEY MEDICAL CENTER NAPERVILLE, IL CONTACT: 630-499-2491 BLINMD@HOTMAIL.COM (LUNG & LIVER RFA) DR. MICHAEL COHN: MEMORIAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER HOLLYWOOD, FL CONTACT: 954-986-6317 MCOHN02@WORLDNET.ATT.NET (LUNG, LIVER, BONE & KIDNEY RFA)

Is the word "Compassionate use"