Actually saw something about meso on mainstream TV last night , when Meridian highlighted a new vaccine trial recruiting for participants . They are looking for 26 people to form part of the trial for Trovax that stimultates the imuune response. The item on Meridian highlighted the involvement of the Oxford company supplying the vaccine. It was introuduced by Dr Andrew Lawson, who is one of the select group of meso survivors having been diagnosed 4 years ago. He was looking extremely healthy , having just completed a furthur degree.
The programme also featured Mavis , one of our other meso warriers, making a great cup of tea.
Always good to see this cancer getting more awareness and new research.
The Phase I/II study in mesothelioma , with Oxford BioMedica collaborating with a team of cancer immunologists led by Dr Zsuzsanna Tabi at Cardiff University and Dr Jason Lester, an oncologist at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, to evaluate TroVax® in a Phase I/II study in mesothelioma . The study will be funded by the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and Oxford BioMedica will provide TroVax®. The study aims to examine the effect of TroVax® in combination with first-line chemotherapy agents as a treatment against mesothelioma.
As well as the Cardiff based trial of trolux, there is another trial underway in Liverpool, looking into the effectiveness of the TeloVac jab vaccine. This new therapy uses “the body’s own defenses to fight cancer, stopping tumors in their tracks.” The researchers are testing the vaccine’s effects on pancreatic cancer. If it proves successful, the vaccine may be extended to the treatment of other aggressive and terminal cancers, such as mesothelioma.
The new vaccine enables the body’s immune system to kill an enzyme called telomerase, which makes cancer cells indestructible and allows the tumor to grow unchecked. Over 1,000 late stage pancreatic cancer sufferers are participating in the Liverpool trial.
Onwards and upwards in the meantime with the chemotherapy recovery. Weather is looking great today so am hopeful may be able to manage a gentle game of tennis.
