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Boron Neutron Capture Therapy in the Treatment of Locally Recurred Head and Neck Cancer. Corrected Proof, 7 August 2007 Leena Kankaanranta, Tiina Seppälä, Hanna Koivunoro, Kauko Saarilahti, Timo Atula, Juhani Collan, Eero Salli, Mika Kortesniemi, Jouni

Specenier P, Vermorken JB. The role of taxanes and targeted therapies in locally advanced head and neck cancer. Curr Opin Oncol. 2007 May;19(3):195-201. PMID: 17414636 [PubMed - in process]

MedWire News: Intralesional injection of interleukin (IL)-7 and IL-15 enhances the effects of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) in inhibiting tumor development and metastases, animal study results show. RFA, used for the treatment of solid tumors and known for its localized tumor effects, may activate immune responses and thereby reduce the risk for local tumor recurrence or distant metastases through T cell stimulation. However, studies have suggested that additional adjuvant immunotherapy may improve the efficacy of RFA. This preclinical study, reported in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, was conducted to evaluate the effect of addition of the cytokines IL-7 and IL-15 to RFA in models of breast cancer.

Most head-and-neck cancers that recur locally after prior full-dose conventional radiation therapy respond to Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). These results were obtained in a Phase I/II study at the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. The scienti

"Worcester, MA - Current research suggests that TNF-receptor associated protein-1 (TRAP-1) may prevent cancer cell death. The related report by Leav et al, "Cytoprotective Mitochondrial Chaperone TRAP-1 as a Novel Molecular Target in Localized and Metastatic Prostate Cancer," appears in the January 2010 issue of the American Journal of Pathology. Prostate cancer cells are often resistant to cell death. Researchers led by Dr. Dario C. Altieri of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, therefore, explored the role of TRAP-1, a protein thought to regulate cell death, in prostate cancer survival. TRAP-1 was highly expressed in both high-grade human prostate cancer lesions and mouse models of prostate cancer, but not in benign or normal prostate tissue. In addition, TRAP-1 overexpression in non-cancer prostate cells inhibited cell death, whereas TRAP-1-deficient prostate cancer cells had enhanced levels of cell death. Moreover, treatment with Gamitrinib, which inhibits TRAP-1, resulted in prostate cancer cell death, but not death of non-cancerous prostate cells. Therefore, targeting TRAP-1 via Gamitrinib treatment may be a viable therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced prostate cancer."

Interleukin 2-mediated conversion of ovarian cancer-associated CD4+ regulatory T cells into proinflammatory interleukin 17-producing helper T cells. Leveque L, Deknuydt F, Bioley G, Old LJ, Matsuzaki J, Odunsi K, Ayyoub M, Valmori D. J Immunother. 2009 Feb-Mar;32(2):101-8. PMID: 19238008 doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e318195b59e Thus, although the impact of TH17 cells on the evolution of EOC remains to be established, our data suggest that local IL-2 treatment in ovarian cancer may result in the conversion of tumor-associated Treg into TH17 cells, relieve Treg-mediated suppression, and contribute to enhance antitumor immunity.

In 1994, I was introduced to PSK, and all-natural, high-quality extract product from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor. A neighbor introduced me to a local mycologist who enthusiastically told me about this remarkable product being used in Japan for the treatment of cancer.

Targeted cancer therapy and gene therapy have been mentioned in the blue before, but oncolytic viruses are the hot young thing. For consideration in cancer treatment, an virus must replicate in and kill a high number of exclusively cancer cells, while sparing healthy tissue. A Philadelphia-based company called Neotropix has won awards for its research into a prime contender - the Seneca Valley Virus. It has been the subject of Phase I adult clinical trials, with Phase II adult and Phase I pediatric clinical trials to start this year. SVV has advantages over some other contenders in that it is a naturally occurring (lest we create a race of mutant zombies) organism and studies so far suggest it is not harmful to healthy human cells. While a number of other oncolytic viruses are being examined, NTX-010 seems able to treat a very wide range of common and rare forms of cancer, some of which are now considered uniformly fatal. In addition, unlike some other tested viruses, it can travel through the bloodstream to treat metastatic and not just local disease. Compared to the side-effects and late effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and because many of the cancers ideal for treatment with an oncolytic virus have no surgical options, this may be the next big breakthrough.

Awada A, Ismael G. The challenging integration of platinum compounds, taxanes, and molecular-targeted therapies in the multidisciplinary treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Curr Opin Oncol. 2007 May;19(3):177-9. PMID: 17414633 [