Personalized Melanoma Vaccine Clears Clinical Trial

For the first time, a personalized cancer vaccine has succeeded in a large, late-stage clinical trial – and the results are giving doctors and patients real reason for hope. The vaccine, aimed at melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer), significantly lowered the chances of the disease coming back after treatment. Even more exciting, the same approach may one day work against many other kinds of cancer.

The vaccine relies on the very same mRNA technology used to create the COVID-19 shots. This makes it the first mRNA-based cancer treatment to prove itself in a major, advanced trial. Scientists are calling it a genuine breakthrough, and one that could reshape how we think about treating cancer. 

How Does It Actually Work? 

 Here is the important part to understand: this vaccine does not prevent you from getting cancer in the first place, the way a flu shot prevents the flu. Instead, it is given to people who have already had cancer surgically removed, and its job is to stop the cancer from returning.

What makes it remarkable is how personal it is. A sample of the patient’s own tumor is analyzed to find the unique mutations in their cancer cells. Those mutations cause the cancer to display abnormal proteins – think of them as little warning flags on the surface of the cell. The vaccine is then custom-built for that one individual, teaching their immune system to recognize those specific flags and hunt down any remaining cancer cells. 

In other words, a completely new medicine is created for each and every patient. As one of the trial’s doctors put it, we have never before been able to train a single patient’s immune system to attack their own particular tumor.

What the Trial Found 

The study followed around 1,100 people with advanced melanoma that had already been surgically removed. Some received the vaccine combined with an established immunotherapy drug, while others received the immunotherapy drug on its own. The result: people who got the combination went longer without their cancer returning than those who received the standard treatment alone.

There is an important note of caution, however. While the results clearly show the vaccine reduces the risk of the cancer coming back, patients will need to be followed for many more years before doctors can say for certain whether it helps people live longer. 

The Challenges Ahead 

The biggest hurdle is exactly what makes the vaccine so special – its personalized nature. Because each dose is made from an individual’s own tumor, the process can take several months. For some people with fast-moving, advanced cancers, that wait may simply be too long. 

To speed things up, researchers are using artificial intelligence to quickly identify which parts of the tumor are most likely to trigger a strong immune response, so the vaccine can be designed more efficiently. 

Beyond Melanoma - is this applicable to other cancers?

Perhaps the most encouraging news is that melanoma may be just the start. The same personalized approach is already being tested against a range of other cancers, including pancreatic, gastric, lung, colorectal, liver, and certain breast cancers. Because the method can be tailored to almost any tumor, many researchers believe it could open the door to a whole new era of cancer treatment.

Experts also point out that the benefits could reach even further, helping build confidence in more personalized treatments for rare conditions caused by unique genetic mutations. 

There is still a long road ahead before this vaccine becomes widely available, and it will need approval from health regulators first. But after years of hope and hard work, this marks a real turning point – a sign that highly personalized, immune-based cancer treatment is finally moving from dream to reality. 

You can read the official announcement of the trial results from the developers, Merck and Moderna, here: Merck & Moderna Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial announcement.

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New Blood Test Screens for Cancers With 99.4% Accuracy

In the vast majority of cases, cancer is not the fatal diagnosis it once was, but the key to recovery is early detection, which is still a problem for those cancer types that are more difficult to diagnose at earlier stages. But even here, the world of medicine is constantly making significant progress, and an excellent example of this is a new blood test that is capable of detecting over 20 types of cancer, including the more difficult-to-diagnose varieties like cervical, pancreatic, colorectal and breast cancer, with a 99.4% accuracy.

What Is This Test?

The blood test is based on cutting-edge genetic research that attempts to detect the genetic changes that happen to their DNA when a person is suffering from cancer. More specifically, the test looks for abnormal methylation in the DNA, which is a process when the DNA is altered by compounds known as methyl groups. The presence of these genetic abnormalities can point to different cancers, which is exactly what this new blood screening is trying to pinpoint.

The test was developed by Harvard University scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and it has recently undergone a series of trials suggesting the test is effective at diagnosing many different cancers. Out of the 3,586 blood samples collected from both cancer patients and healthy controls alike, the test identified cancer patients correctly with amazing 99.4% precision.

Furthermore, the scientists checked how well the test approximates the origin of the cancer, and it turns out that the test gets that right as well with 89% precision. But one of the greatest goals of the study was to show that the blood test is capable of detecting 14 high-risk cancers that account for 63% of cancer deaths, such as esophagus, breast, lung, gastric, ovary, pancreatic cancer, and others.

These cancers were detected correctly with 76% accuracy. More specifically, within this high-risk cancer group, the test accurately detected Stage I cancer 32% of the time, stage II - 76%, Stage III - 85%, and Stage IV - 93%. This is a great success, as many of these high mortality cancers are typically found in more advanced and difficult-to-treat stages.

Overall, this one blood test successfully detected ⅓ of patients with stage one cancer and ¾ of those suffering from stage two cancer, so it has an excellent potential of really improving current diagnostic practices and prevent many deaths. The researchers have recently presented the results of this trial in September 2019, at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, and hopefully, this revolutionary technique will soon become a successful diagnostic tool for physicians worldwide.

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Gastric Obstruction – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Your bowels are tasked with removing waste and toxins from your body, as well as absorbing salts, liquids, nutrients, indigestible vitamins. They do it to extract all possible nutrients that weren’t digested in the stomach and maintain the balance of electrolytes in your system.
When your bowels are not functioning well, they collect the waste and toxins they’re supposed to get rid of, resulting in various diseases and health issues. If left undiagnosed and untreated, obstructed bowels lead to kidney and liver-related health problems. In this article, you’ll learn all you need to know about bowel obstruction, symptoms that should serve as warning signals, and the natural home remedies needed to fix and prevent it.

What causes gastric obstructions?
The reasons for obstructed bowels are plentiful, such as hernias, cysts, tumors, etc. Another reason is overeating foods that are harmful to our bodies, such as food rich in preservatives and other chemicals. These chemicals lead to a buildup of mucus in the guts, which releases toxins that can damage the body. Another cause is a buildup of fecal matter or foreign bodies in the lower intestine.
Bezoars can also cause gastric obstructions. Bezoars are a fibrous lump that forms in the stomach, and the most common type is formed of undigested pieces of food. They are mainly composed out of plant cellulose, most common in unripe fruit and persimmons.
Men are in a higher risk group for contracting phytobezoars in their stomachs, with symptoms that include upper gastric pains, feeling full soon after beginning to eat, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite and loss of weight. Symptoms only appear in 10-25% of the cases, making phytobezoars hard to diagnose, and can lead to gastric obstructions.
What happens when your gastrointestinal system is obstructed?
When the small intestine is blocked, it will begin contracting in order to move its content beyond the obstruction, which can lead to frequent diarrhea. In later stages, it will become less effective, causing a buildup of water and electrolytes that can lead to dehydration.
The obstruction will also create pressure on the intestinal walls, and if left untreated – will only get worse. This can lead to venous drainage obstruction, a rising of the diaphragm, and a suppression of the lungs’ function. The obstruction itself will aid in the bacterial buildup, in particular, E-Coli, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus Faecalis. The bacteria colonies will grow very quickly, increasing the chances of gangrene and intestinal punctures.

Patients lose their ability to pass feces and gasses along the intestine, causing swelling and increasing stomach pains. The large intestine will expand due to the buildup of bacterium, liquids, feces and gasses.

Which symptoms can indicate an obstruction?
Symptoms can be evidence of obstruction caused be stomach cramping or phytobezoars. Once you notice these symptoms, it is recommended that you pay a visit to your family doctor, to evaluate the nature of the obstruction. Not all symptoms may appear, but they will appear in these general groups:

• Constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, lethargy and swelling.
• Headaches, memory loss, blurred vision.
• Burning sensation in the upper digestive system.
• Weight gain, lack of energy and indigestion.
• Ulcers in the stomach and Duodenum, ulcerative colitis and stomach inflammation.
• Urinary tract infections and inflammation of the kidneys.
• Constant colds, allergies, joint pains and chronic diseases                                       Treatments:
  The most basic treatment is hooking the patient up to an IV, which can only be performed by a doctor. In some cases, the obstructions can be relieved by using a nasogastric tube, and in severe cases, an operation will be required. An enema may help in some cases, but if performed incorrectly – can lead to internal bleeding.
  The simplest, natural treatment for intestinal obstruction is eating 1-3 tablespoons of flax seeds, combined with 100-15ml of Kefir (a type of fermented milk drink) for three days. Flax seeds help the body dispose of fecal matter, mucus and parasites. Additionally, flax seeds can help prevent several forms of cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, and even help lower cholesterol levels. Kefir contains many probiotic bacteria, enzymes, vitamin B12 and proteins, all of which are good for your body. Kefir also helps in restoring the gastric biome and is lactose-free.
  To clear your intestines from obstructions, add kefir and flax seeds to your breakfast in this manner:
  
  • 1st week: 100ml of kefir and one tablespoon of flax seeds
  • 2nd week: 100ml of kefir and two tablespoons of flax seeds
  • 3rd week: 150ml of kefir and three tablespoons of flax seeds
  Additionally, drink at least two liters of water every day.
  
  
  Prevention:
  The best way to unblock a phytobezoar obstruction is by eating food that is high in protein and low in fiber. Once the blockage is gone, follow these dietary tips to heal and prevent reoccurrences.
  
• Beverages: It is advised that you keep your body well hydrated. Drink fruit-shakes, water, and sports drinks that are rich in electrolytes. Avoid high-fat dairy.
• Dairy: Stick to low-fat or fat-free products.
• Grains and bread: Fiber from whole grain tends to slow down the digestive process. Focus on plain white bread, pasta, and regular grain.
• Fruits and vegetables: Boiled or canned fruits and vegetables are the way to go. Avoid eating the skin. Watermelon, melons, and bananas can be consumed fresh. Avoid high-fiber fruits and vegetables.
• Meat and meat substitutes: Protein is essential to the healing process. Stick to skinless chicken or turkey meat. Other kinds of lean meat, such as fish, eggs and tofu are also good.
• Other: Avoid fried foods and use as little butter as possible. Boiled or steamed foods are the most recommended. Minimize the use of seasoning and fatty sauces and dressings.
   
  THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    
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