Health
Novel cancer treatment offers new hope when chemo and radiation fail: ‘Big change in people’s lives’
When it comes to cancer treatments, most people are familiar with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Yet there is another emerging, lesser-known therapy that is showing promising results in treating blood cancers.
With CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s T-cells are taken from the blood, engineered to attack cancer cells and then infused back into the patient’s body through an IV, Dr. Noopur Raje told Fox News Digital.
Raje is director of the Center for Multiple Myeloma at Massachusetts General Hospital, which has a Gene and Cell Therapy Institute that offers CAR T-cell therapy.
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“I think it’s made a big change in people’s lives and how we take care of people,” she told Fox News Digital in an interview.
“It’s one of the most personalized ways of taking care of some of the blood-related cancers.”
At Mass General, Raje and her team treat patients with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer that attacks the plasma cells.
Most of their patients are between 60 and 70 years old, she said.
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptors, which are proteins that enable T-cells to target the tumor antigens produced by cancer cells.
T-cells are a type of white blood cell that helps to fight germs and prevent disease, per the Cleveland Clinic.
There are currently six CAR T-cell therapies that are FDA-approved to treat leukemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma and other blood cancers.
“We are taking our patients’ T-cells, which are the immune cells, and then activating them and putting a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which can recognize a protein on a cancer tumor,” Raje said.
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Because Raje treats multiple myeloma, her team started off by doing studies against a protein called BCMA, which is found in cancerous plasma cells.
The re-engineered T-cells continue multiplying in the body, so they can seek out and kill more tumor cells, the doctor said.
“We are seeing extremely high response rates, between 82% and 100%,” she told Fox News Digital. “Now we need to do a better job of maintaining that response.”
Before CAR T-cell therapy, Raje said, patients were started on a treatment and then stayed on it for an indefinite length of time.
“This is the first time that patients are getting a ‘one-off’ treatment, and then we’re just watching them with no more treatment at all,” she said.
Once the process is complete, the patient receives no new therapies for up to three years.
While the treatment can be a little “involved” at the beginning, Raje said, once it’s complete the patient receives no new therapies for up to three years.
“And I have some patients who are on no treatment for way longer than that, which is a big advancement,” she added.
“Obviously, we need to do better — we need to cure people,” Raje said.
“We’re not quite there, but the next step is to start the treatment earlier, so we can start seeing more control of the disease over a longer period of time.”
As of now, the FDA has approved CAR T-cell therapy as a “last resort” when the disease has persisted through all other available treatments; but Raje hopes that soon, it will be available to patients earlier in the course of their cancers.
CAR T-cell therapy is expensive — costing anywhere from $500,000 to $1,000,000, per WebMD. Raje pointed out, however, that many insurance plans cover at least some of the cost. It is also covered by Medicare.
“I think one has to start looking at the time saved in terms of quality of life in not coming back to the hospital and not being on any other meds,” she said.
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There is some risk of side effects for those receiving CAR T-cell therapy, primarily a condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). It can occur when the immune system responds too aggressively to infection.
“When the CAR T-cell kills the tumor, it produces a bunch of proteins, and when it does that, it can make you quite sick,” Raje said.
“But as we’ve used more and more of these therapies, we’ve gotten pretty good at managing this, and we have the antidotes for these kinds of toxicities,” she added.
Another potential side effect is a condition called ICANS, or immune effector-mediated neurotoxicity.
“With this, people can get confused, sometimes to the extent that they can actually go into a deep coma,” Raje said. “It’s important to recognize and treat these conditions earlier.”
One woman’s story: ‘A great response’
Sandy Caterine, a retired accountant who lives in Rye, New Hampshire, was part of a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy.
She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August 2019.
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“It kind of came out of nowhere,” Caterine told Fox News Digital. “In retrospect, maybe I had a couple of little symptoms.”
Caterine had experienced some back pain, fatigue and nausea, but initially chalked it up to dehydration.
When the symptoms didn’t go away on their own, she saw her primary care physician and got some blood tests, which led to her diagnosis.
“I had never even heard of multiple myeloma,” Caterine said. “All I heard was that it was incurable and no one could predict what the life expectancy might be.”
For several months, Caterine was on a regimen of numerous drugs, infusions and radiation, none of which fully resolved her cancer. Then she learned about the clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy.
“Sandy has what is known as high-risk disease, based on the genetics of the cancer,” said Raje. “This usually doesn’t have good outcomes, but Sandy had a great response to the trial.”
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Caterine, who is 62, did experience the CRS illness as a side effect, which caused her to endure nausea, fatigue, fever and disorientation.
She remained in the hospital for 15 days.
“It took me a while to get my strength back,” she said. “I do remember them taking very good care of me.”
Caterine has gotten periodic bone marrow scans every three months since her infusion.
“So far, there has been no sign of the disease,” she said.
“Dr. Raje told me the hope was that it would work for two to three years, and I am already over two years.”
Caterine’s experience has helped her appreciate each day more than she did before, she told Fox News Digital.
“It’s probably the most personalized way of being able to take care of your own disease.”
“These are two years that I never thought I would get when I was first diagnosed,” she said.
“It’s just great that I can continue to live my life and be with my family.”
Future of CAR T-cell therapy
CAR T-cell therapy started out for use in leukemia, later branching out to other blood cancers like lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Raje is hopeful that the treatment eventually will become available for other types of cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon and brain.
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“We have an ongoing study where we are looking at CAR T-cell therapy in glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, which we would have never thought of doing early on,” she said.
“And we have a whole host of new CARs coming down the pike against different antigens.”
“Obviously, we need to do better — we need to cure people.”
The doctor emphasized the significance of teaching the body’s own immune cells to fight against cancer cells.
“In my mind, it’s probably the most personalized way of being able to take care of your own disease, which is amazing,” she said.
Health
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Health
Childhood medical myths debunked as experts weigh in on 5 common warnings
Mothers might know best, but it’s not always easy to separate fact from fiction when it comes to health advice.
A new report from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health has broken down several common wellness myths that children often hear while growing up.
Fox News Digital spoke with experts who revealed the truth behind common medical misconceptions.
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Here are five.
Myth 1. Ginger ale relieves stomach aches
While actual ginger can help ease a stomach ache, most commercial ginger ales don’t actually contain the real thing, Michelle Jaelin, a registered dietitian practicing in Ontario, Canada, told Fox News Digital.
This childhood myth persists as parents give ginger ale to children because it’s sweet and bubbly, she said.
“It makes parents feel better that they are doing something for their child when they aren’t feeling well, and the myth persisted as a drink that helps a stomach ache,” Jaelin said.
The carbonated beverages could actually make the stomach pain even worse by increasing gas in the digestive tract, according to Healthline’s website.
Drinks with real ginger also tend to contain excess added sugar, experts said – essentially the equivalent of soda that may worsen stomach pain.
Myth 2. Gum stays in your stomach for seven years
“Swallowed gum does not stay in your stomach for [seven] years, as the myths suggest,” Su-Nui Escobar, a registered dietitian based in Miami, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
“While swallowing gum is not recommended, if you do so accidentally, you will likely pass it like any other indigestible food.”
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The gum will pass through the stomach within two hours and be excreted in the stool after approximately two to five days, just like other foods, according to the recent UCSF report.
Although chewing gum can stick to many surfaces — including walls or desks — it travels mostly intact through the gastrointestinal tract without sticking to the intestinal walls, the report notes.
But experts still caution against children swallowing gum, because substantial amounts might cause an intestinal blockage, Escobar warned.
This is a particular concern among children who have underlying constipation, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.
“If you suspect a blockage, seek immediate medical attention,” Escobar advised.
Myth 3. You shouldn’t swim for 30 minutes after eating
As summer kicks into high gear, there is good news for any swimmer itching to get in the water after lunch. Yes, it is usually OK to swim right after you eat.
The myth that you shouldn’t swim immediately after eating stems from a theoretical concern that blood flow will be diverted away from the arms and legs to help digest food, potentially leading to an increased risk of drowning.
“Based on current research, eating before swimming is not affiliated with a risk of drowning, and can be dismissed as a myth.”
But a comprehensive American Red Cross scientific review on the effects of eating before swimming showed no effect on performance in the water after a meal.
“A recent literature review did not provide any information related to an increased risk of drowning due to consuming food before swimming,” Jodi Jensen, PhD, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council in Virginia, told Fox News Digital.
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“There is no supporting evidence from a major medical or safety organization that recommends refraining from eating before engaging in aquatic activities such as swimming,” added Jensen, who is also an assistant professor and aquatics director at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.
“Based on current research, eating before swimming is not affiliated with a risk of drowning, and can be dismissed as a myth.”
Although study participants experienced “minimal” side effects at different time intervals after eating, some outside experts do recommend waiting a bit after a meal if you plan to swim laps or compete to avoid any stomach cramping or digestive issues.
Myth 4. Chicken soup cures a cold
Chicken soup has been viewed as a popular cold remedy since at least the 12th century, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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“Chicken soup is warm and comforting when you’re sick, but it’s not a cure,” Jaelin told Fox News Digital.
“Chicken soup is warm and comforting when you’re sick, but it’s not a cure.”
“Drinking any hot broth when your sinuses are stuffed can help to clear them out.”
The steam from the chicken broth may relieve a sore throat and congested sinuses, the NIH noted.
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When battling a cold, get plenty of clear fluids to help regulate body temperature and promote improved immune system function, said Jaelin.
“Chicken soup counts toward overall fluid intake,” she added.
It also helps prevent dehydration and clear out mucus, the NIH noted.
Myth 5. You will ruin your eyes if you sit too close to the TV
Sitting too close to the TV will not damage your eyes, though it may cause eye strain, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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To prevent eye strain while watching television, experts recommend keeping the room well-lit and taking occasional breaks from the screen.
“Children can focus at very close distances better than adults, and may not develop the same eye strain symptoms,” Nishika Reddy, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology at Moran Eye Center’s Midvalley Health Center at University of Utah in Murray, Utah, told Fox News Digital.
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It may be a red flag, though, if children are watching television too closely, experts warned.
The behavior may indicate an underlying vision issue that should be addressed, the UCSF report noted.
“See an eye care provider to perform an eye exam for your child,” Reddy recommended.
A more concerning issue is the indirect effect of too much screen time, according to the report.
Although experts say there is no one-size-fits-all guideline when it comes to children and screen time, the American Academy of Pediatrics says high-quality digital media can be introduced to children between 18 and 24 months of age (only when supervised by parents or caregivers).
The academy also recommends limiting screen time to one hour a day for children ages 2 to 5.
Fox News Digital reached out to UCSF for additional comment about its new study.
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