Dr. Science I'm Not

Last Saturday’s Melanoma Research Foundation patient education symposium included a presentation on various immunotherapy treatments for melanoma. I went to law school rather than attempt to gain admission to med school because the basic sciences like chemistry and biology might as well be magic when it comes to my brain’s ability to comprehend the subjects, so much of the presentation flew right past me. But I did pick up a few nuggets of information that I’ll try to pass on, with the disclaimer that the reader should know they are not coming from Dr. Science.

Melanoma is one of the cancers that our body’s immune system can naturally recognize as an unwelcome and dangerous intruder and then attack and kill. The basic idea behind immunotherapy is to prompt and stimulate the immune system’s killer “t-cells” to find and assault melanoma cells. But melanoma cells are crafty and creative bastards that produce substances that suppress and put a brake on the immune system. A substance called CTLA-4 is one of those immune system suppressors employed by melanoma cells.

Our new friend Ipilimumab/Yervoy produces a specific “antibody” against CTLA-4, like a flu shot produces a specific antibody against the flu virus, and thereby enhances the immune system’s abilities to find and kill melanoma cells. Some 10 to 15% of Stage IV patients receiving Yervoy see the wonderful response of tumors disappearing, although the durability of that response remains to be seen.

The idea behind post-operative Stage III patients receiving systemic immunotherapy treatments (like interferon alpha-2b and interleukin-2) when they show “no evidence of disease” is that there may be undetectable melanoma cells wondering about that need to be found and killed by the immune system before they find a home and wreak havoc in some major organ. Consequently, Yervoy’s immune system-enhancing capabilities are now being tested in Yervoy v. placebo and Yervoy v. interferon trials on Stage III patients.

With hope that these pending trials pan out rather quickly, and my prayers that my friend Chelsea ain’t receiving no stinking placebo this week in her Yervoy trial, here’s my version of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy”…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vo23H9J8o8


Well you've heard about meds givin' fright to C’s kind
My Black C’s druggin’ caused my sun to shine
It’s that neat little thang....It’s oncs’ pride and joy
It’s that sweet little Yervoy.... make those killer t-cells buoy

Yeah I love that Yervoy....whackin’ moles
Folks like us just want to grow old
It's that neat little thang....It’s oncs’ pride and joy
It’s that sweet little Yervoy....make those killer t-cells buoy

Yeah I love that Yervoy....It’s strong and mean
You mess with it....You'll see Black C turn green
It’s that neat little thang....It’s oncs’ pride and joy
It’s that sweet little Yervoy....make those killer t-cells buoy

Well I love that Yervoy....Like expensive wine
Stick with it until the end of line
It’s that neat little thang....It’s oncs’ pride and joy
It’s that sweet little Yervoy....make those killer t-cells buoy

Yeah I love that Yervoy....costly though
Folks like us just hope to grow old
It’s that neat little thang....it’s new pharma ploy
It’s that sweet little Yervoy...make those killer t-cells buoy