While an excellent plan in theory, given the immunosuppressive properties of melanoma cells, vaccines have had a very poor showing in treatment of the disease. Overall response rates to vaccines alone is roughly only 3%.
Another abstract at ASCO relates the findings from a study (out of Ochsner Cancer Institute in New Orleans) using Hyperacute Melanoma Vaccine plus pegylated interferon. "25 patients (resected stage III or recurrent/refractory stage IV melanoma patients) were treated. 21 completed the trial. 4 stopped due to progressive disease. Of 16 stage IV patients: there were 2 complete responders, 2 with stable disease and 3 who were NED after resection. Of 9 stage III patients: 3 remained NED, 1 had slowly progressive disease. Median overall survival is 29 months, with 50% surviving 2 years and 48% still alive at time of report. Vitiligo developed in 4 of 25 patients (25%) and correlated with 2 complete responses and 2 NED's." (So....reading between the lines...there were 2 complete responders both of whom were stage IV and both of those patients must have developed vitiligo. Interesting.)
A study in Russia using a dendritic cell vaccine, reports that 4 patients out of 108, developed vitiligo and found it was associated more durable time to progression and overall survival.
So....who knows what all this means? Who knows whether the vaccine component in my study will improve the outcomes as compared to studies yet to be completed using MDX 1106 alone? Guess for now, I'll just have to raise a glass to my ever increasing white blotches. Rosie says they are much increased and I am turning into a whiter, little white woman. I'll have to post more lovely pics soon. - c
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So exciting! May you become the whitest of the white! :D
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