Clinical Trial Begins on Vaccine Made from Patient’s Own Tumor

Feb. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- Newly diagnosed brain cancer patients are being sought by Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento for a clinical trial of a vaccine that is made from a patient’s own tumor.

Dr. Nora Wu, along with a team of surgeons and physicians, has begun the DCVax®-L Phase II Clinical Trial at Sutter Medical Center in collaboration with the Sutter Institute for Medical Research. The study looks at the response of patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) to a vaccine made from their own tumor in addition to standard radiation and chemotherapy.  

In prior trials of DCVax®-L immune therapy for GBM brain cancer, the results were striking. The patients who received DCVax®-L showed a median survival of three years, compared with median survival of only 14.6 months with standard of care treatment (surgery, radiation and chemotherapy).

To be potentially eligible for the study, patients must:
• Be between the ages of 18 and 70;
• Have an MRI that is consistent with a malignant high-grade glioblastoma;
• Be identified as candidates for the trial before surgical removal of the tumor.  

To learn more about this trial, contact the Sutter Institute for Medical Research at (916) 733-8930. Additional information may be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ as well as the Northwest Biotherapeutics website, http://nwbio.com/.

About Sutter Institute for Medical Research (SIMR):
SIMR is dedicated to advancing and improving patient care through quality research and has participated in hundreds of investigative studies resulting in significant medical advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. Its researchers include private practice physicians, as well as members of Sutter affiliated medical groups, who have chosen to commit their time and their skill to encourage and support high quality research with the aim of maintaining and improving human health. Learn more about SIMR by logging on to its Web site at checksutterfirst.org/reseach/ or at sutterresearch.org.