Re: [CML] CML VAX B3 Trial Update: PCR Goes Negative!

[Rob]

Congratulation Carl.   Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: Carl Davies     Dear Listmembers:           After five injections of the CML VAX B3 (breakpoint fusion peptide vaccine), quantitative PCR dropped to zero, down from .002% PH+ prior to my starting the vaccine trial at Sloan Kettering (www.mskcc.org).             Cytogenetics and FISH were also negative.            I am still PH positive on the qualitative PCR.  In the past, I only hit quantitative PCR negative on Gleevec once in August, 2004 and lost it by November,  2004.  I was never negative on the qualitative PCR.  I was diagnosed with CML in December, 2002 and have taken Gleevec for nearly three years.           CAVEAT:  Since I am still on Gleevec, these latest results do not PROVE that the vaccine itself  caused the reduction to zero, but it may be an indicator.  I was also told that when the research docs mixed my blood with a mixture containing BCR-ABL, the T Cells mounted a rather aggressive response against the leukemic cells.  Again, this was a laboratory experiment and does not prove  that vaccine will eradicate CML in our bodies.           All this does underscore the critical importance of expanding these trials to build a much larger database, so that reliable conclusions about the effectiveness of the vaccine can be drawn.           Both OHSU and MDACC will begin trials with the vaccine in the near future.           I suggest that patients contact their doctors and request that vaccine trials can be set up at their  respective hospitals.   If interested, please ask your doctors to contact the inventor of the vaccine, Dr. David Scheinberg, Chairman of MSKCC’s Experimental Therapeutics Center.      Dr. Scheinberg's email is:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone:  (212) 639-5010             I receive vaccine Number 8 on November 30.  So far, side effects have been minimal:  some minor swelling and pain at the injection site and temporary low-grade fever on two occasions.              Most importantly, these clinical trials are very expensive.  I strongly urge you to contact your government officials and demand that they support increased funding of stem cell, vaccine, drug and any other types of leukemia research that will lead to a cure of CML and related diseases.   Best Wishes, Carl Davies Allentown, PA  USA  (90 mi. west of New York City)        Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: cml@yahoogroups.com Subscribe:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS  Visit your group "CML" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.