My mum was diagnosed with CLL around 3 years ago (she is doing OK and is on watch and wait- i.e no therapy for the moment) so I try to keep up with emerging treatment options for CLL through membership of the the CLL list on ACOR.org.
An interesting post re: general advances in the targetted cancer therapy- particularly nano technology development- with an interesting link to a technology that might one day replace the need for bmb/a.
I would like to credit Wayne Wells of the CLL list .... see a copy of his post below.
Sandy
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BMB Replacement??
I want to thank Dick Morris for bringing this potential technology replacement for the current BMB (Bone Marrow Biopsy) to List members. (see link) http://www.pnas.org/content/108/52/21194.abstract?etoc
I copied this abstract to show Dr. Byrd (CLL expert at the James Cancer Center OSU) Byrd's comments were brief but confirmed my suspicion that this technology would have to clear the hoop of "Standardization" before it can be widely accepted and replace the BMB. One area he thought would need clarification is what amount of blood would be required to get a reliable result. In general he thought it might work.
From my perspective, great strides have been made in general in the imaging field and high resolution scanning that should pave the way for less invasive procedures e.g. BMB & blood draws plus providing more accurate data applied to not only determining MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) but the study in real time of biochemical changes in say, LSCs (Leukemic Stem Cells) during treatment that will determine drug efficacy and evasive mechanisms of LSCs that thwart eradication and unnecessary continuance of toxic therapies that are no longer working. We need to let patient oriented advocacy groups such as (in the US): LLS (Leukemia Lymphoma Society) & LRF (Lymphoma Research Foundation) as well as our doctors know about these emerging developments and for us to push for their acceptance in bettering our course of living with and battling cancer.
Just to give you a hint of future technologies that will eventually help to cure us or make our cancers into manageable less threatening conditions I have culled a few links to illustrate the near future. (short and easy to read)
http://tinyurl.com/6myxnp7 3D image of cancer-prevention molecule
http://tinyurl.com/3tn87na Protein 'switches' for cancer cell specific lysing
http://tinyurl.com/3d7pvjx Nanotech drug delivery system
http://tinyurl.com/86d39wd organic nanoparticle development
http://tinyurl.com/7oj8ygd Viewing individual protein interactions in brain cells
Keeping Hope within our grasp.
Wayne Wells