Hello and thank you for your post.

I wonder what the oncologist expects from immunotherapy (or any other
further treatment), for an epithelial cancer, that has defied all those
treatments?

I also wonder about quality of life issues, like travelling to places never
seen before, visiting with friends and relatives, anywhere in the world,
finishing projects,  making the most of the time left...

In that regard, I'd appreciate hearing from the oncologist what he/she
thinks of "our" oncologist's algorithm about treatment decisions.  Archived
here
<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.cancer/msg/1b25021ba108fca1?hl=en&lr=
&ie=UTF-8>

Keywords, on Question # 3 "by some worthwhile amount"

I look forward to hearing the responses.

Please watch for Steph's comments or questions. Perhaps he'll have a
suggestion.
J

http://herbivore.7h.com/cancerpost.html

They are beginning to target the iron in the treatment of cancer and
getting some good results.

A search of the groups with the words 'iron and cancer' should bring up
some of the articles .. much like this one ..

<<snip>>
Conclusions: Talactoferrin is a promising, well-tolerated new agent
that should be evaluated further in patients with refractory metastatic

cancer.
<<snip>>

1: Invest New Drugs. 2005 Sep 20; [Epub ahead of print] Links

Phase I trial of oral talactoferrin alfa in refractory solid tumors.

Hayes TG, Falchook GF, Varadhachary GR, Smith DP, Davis LD, Dhingra HM,

Hayes BP, Varadhachary A.

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine,
Houston, Texas, USA.

Background: Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein first
identified in breast milk as a protein product of mammary epithelial
cells. Its immunomodulatory functions include activation of NK and
lymphokine-activated killer cells and enhancement of PMN and macrophage

cytotoxicity. Studies in animal models have shown promising anti-cancer

activity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety
and tolerability of talactoferrin alfa (talactoferrin; TLF) in humans,
as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Methods: Ten adult
patients with progressive advanced solid tumors who had failed
conventional chemotherapy were administered oral TLF at doses from 1.5
to 9 g/day, using a 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off schedule. Patients were
evaluated for drug toxicity, tumor growth rate, talactoferrin
pharmacokinetics and cytokine markers. Results: Talactoferrin was very
well tolerated. No hematological, hepatic, or renal toxicities were
reported. A single patient had Grade 2 diarrhea, and there were no
Grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Following oral administration, significant
levels of talactoferrin were undetectable in circulation, but a
statistically significant increase in circulating IL-18, a
pharmacodynamic indicator of talactoferrin activity, was observed. Of
the eight patients who were radiologically evaluable, five (63%) had
stable disease by RECIST criteria two months after start of therapy,
including one patient with a minor response. Seven patients (88%) had a

decrease in their tumor growth rate. The three patients with non-small
cell lung cancer (NSCLC) all survived for at least one year following
the start of talactoferrin monotherapy. Conclusions: Talactoferrin is a

promising, well-tolerated new agent that should be evaluated further in

patients with refractory metastatic cancer.

PMID: 16193240 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Who loves ya.
Tom

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