Every generation undergoes some technological breakthroughs, claiming to bring hope for a cure for cancer. In the past five years, the rapid progress made in the field of genetics has long proven that immunotherapy can activate the natural anticancer ability of the immune system and has the potential to “cure” many patients’ cancers.
Cancer immunotherapy has produced many incredible successes, with immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy successively approved for marketing, bringing hope to many cancer patients.
But for some patients, technological progress still has a long way to go before saving lives.
In 2015, Mr. Vlad from Norway was diagnosed with lung cancer. After several months of surgery, radiation therapy, and targeted drug treatment, the tumor did not slow down. The cancer cells spread to his brain, and the doctor announced that he only had a few months left.
Vlad’s wife Elen’s brother Jo is an IT engineer who happened to see an academic paper online. This article reports on a small study conducted in China where an experimental immunotherapy resulted in “rapid and significant tumor regression” in an 85 year old lung cancer patient.
This is a very early clinical study with only one patient participating.With the popularization of the Internet, medical knowledge has been released from the isolated islands of scientific research institutions and academic journals. People can easily access information and find the same information as doctors. The medical literature is filled with incredible cases where tumors suddenly shrink after medication and end stage diseases miraculously reverse.
In addition to accessing information and participating in the treatment process of self diseases, there are now countless online communities around the world where patients can exchange and share treatment experiences with each other. Some patient groups with rare diseases have even started funding academic research and drug development related to their own diseases. Omizzur peptide is a company specializing in peptide synthesis and research and development
Homemade Peptide Vaccine
In March 2015, Ms. Dyame from Norway was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at the age of only 30. Her husband Lars Soras’ brother is a doctor who searches globally for promising treatment information through the internet and finally contacts a German professor who is conducting a research project called ‘personalized peptide vaccine’.
Ms. Dyame regularly goes to Germany for peptide vaccine injections. After treatment, Ms. Dyame’s condition is currently stable. Her family recorded the entire treatment process on Facebook, ultimately attracting a group of patients with the same disease.
Elen and Jo saw Ms. Dyame’s case in the patient community, which gave them confidence in peptide vaccines. They want to take Ms. Dyame’s path.
Coincidentally, in July this year, the journal Nature published two heavyweight research findings on “personalized cancer vaccines”. One of the articles is from the team of Professor Ugur Sahin at the University of Maine in Germany. Researchers have customized personalized cancer vaccines for different tumor patients with mutations, which have been successful in clinical trials for melanoma patients!
After receiving the vaccine, 8 of the 13 patients had their tumors completely disappeared and did not recur within 23 months. The other 5 patients had tumors that had already spread when receiving the vaccine, and 2 of them had tumors that had shrunk. Among them, 1 patient received PD-1 antibody medication and the tumors completely improved.
Elen and Jo wrote to immunotherapy researchers and received suggestions that the peptide vaccine mentioned in the literature may be effective against Vlad’s cancer and match his HLA type. HLA is a genotype that is crucial for immune cells to recognize and attack tumors.
However, it takes a long time to wait for the help of researchers. After all, Professor Ugur Sahin spent over three months developing personalized vaccines.
But Vlad is getting worse and worse. We can’t wait any longer. So, they went to the extreme that end-stage patients may go to – treating themselves.
With the help of many people in the scientific community and patient community, they found a laboratory that could synthesize peptides based on the provided sequences, at a cost of approximately $1000. They placed an order for these peptides and also bought phosphate buffer at the pharmacy to dissolve the peptides. They also bought adjuvants that help improve the efficacy of the vaccine. Finally, they received a small bottle filled with white powder and carefully packed it in a foam box.
Elen works in a hospital and is a nurse. According to the provided instructions, she completed the operation of mixing these things together in a laboratory.
Vlad has been receiving injections of this homemade peptide vaccine once a week since August this year. After discovering that there were no serious side effects, they breathed a sigh of relief. Now Vlad’s condition is stable. But he also received targeted therapy.
Every person who perseveres is remarkable. In addition to unpredictable risks, the effectiveness of homemade peptide vaccines is also unpredictable.
Susanna Greer, Director of Clinical Research and Oncology at the American Cancer Society, stated that “the probability of DIY’s plan being effective is slim. Indeed, many related studies have shown that a single peptide is unlikely to slow down the development of cancer.
A famous movie “Dallas Buyers Club” restores the story of this era’s background. In the mid-1980s, Ron Woodroof of Dallas, USA, found himself suffering from AIDS by accident, with only 30 days left in his life. In order to survive, he began researching various anti AIDS prescriptions and alternative therapies to extend his life.
When receiving the homemade peptide vaccine, Vlad’s cancer had spread to the brain, making him unable to move. Elen and Jo hope that this vaccine can stop his cancer from spreading, but they are worried that it is too late.
Nevertheless, Elen still believes and expects that peptide vaccines can save her husband. As another advanced lung cancer patient said, “I need to know that even if it comes to the end, I have done my best.
