The wheels have been turning on the “CAR” T-cell clinical trial. Sherri is now enrolled in the trial, and has started preparations. But let’s not put the CAR-T before the horse; here’s how it works! As described by Dr. Beatty at UPenn: “A Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) is an antibody engineered to recognize a specific protein on a cancer cell. When a CAR is inserted into a specific white blood cell called a T cell, binding of the CAR to the specific protein on a cancer cell will activate the T cell to kill the cancer cell.”
In practice, this is done as part of the multi-step process illustrated below. Sherri completed Step 1 on Tue, Aug 5 at UPenn. The process is called apheresis, whereby a whirring gizmo methodically sucks blood from your neck for a couple of hours. Granted, you get most of it back, minus some T-cells. The T-cells are engineered, then multiplied in the lab. Assuming this all works as advertised, next month Sherri will start to get her newly trained and cloned T-cell army.
Like Star Wars Episode II, starring Count Dracula.
Source: Activating the Immune System in Pancreatic Cancer, Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, March 2, 2012. Click the diagram to see the rest of the presentation.
While we wait for the T-cell genetic engineering to take place, Sherri is staying on the FOLFIRI chemotherapy regimen. It will be a few more weeks before we get a new CT scan to see how everything looks. Until then, we will stay the course, keep our fingers crossed, and follow through with these great opportunities being put before us.
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In other news, the stars aligned for us to take a summer trip recently, highlighted by visits to NYC, Iceland, Oxford, London, Cumbria (UK’s Lake District), and Edinburgh. Fueled by the energy of her first trip to UK, Sherri rocked this 2000′ ascent of the Old Man of Coniston, overlooking Coniston Water in one direction and the Irish Sea in another. A bit of pub trivia: there is actually only one official lake in the Lake District (by their definition). The rest of them, including Coniston Water – which is 5 miles long – are apparently too small to qualify! They are reminiscent of the Finger Lakes in NY (or is it the other way around?)
Climbing the “Old Man” of Coniston.
So overall, Sherri is grateful to be in a place where she could take this summer trip, fighting her way through the nasty business of chemotherapy, and excited by the possibilities of the newly emerging CAR T-cell science. Me? I agree this is a great opportunity, but then I’ve always been a CAR guy.
So happy you got a summer vacation! My heart goes out to you for the rigors of chemo, and I’m cheering for the CAR T-cell possibilities. Looks amazing! I think another pie is in order — are your trees ready to be picked? xox
As always thanks for the update and can’t wait to see you all and hear more about the wonderful trip! xoxo to you all!!
It was great to see you all this past weekend – – looking forward to the next time! And thanks for the update on this new study. Love to all of you, xoxoxoxo
The new trial sure sounds encouraging! The picture of Sherri is so beautiful! So glad you got to see Europe!
Hi all. Thinking of you everyday. I’m usually not a fan of military built-ups, but I am hoping this new “army” will be powerful and victorious! Great that you had that trip…the photo of Sherri on the mountain made me think of climbing Crested Butte back in 1974!!
Sounds like the trip to Europe was awesome and a much needed diversion from the activities of the past year. Sending good thoughts and prayers that all will go well with the CAR T-Cell treatment. Hope we will be able to see you soon.
Love for the road ahead!!! Grateful you had some summer adventures together! Precious times. xo
Thinking of you today, Sherri, as your new soldier cells are infused and they start to wage their war. May the battles be kind to you, and devastating to the cancer cells. We love you!!!
I am grateful for the modern science of biology and for all those who have labored in this field. It boggles my mind how futuristic the new therapy sounds – re-engineering T-Cells to teach them how to know what to attack! Sounds promising and here’s hoping that it works amazingly.
Lots of love, hugs and prayers coming your way! T-Cells do your thing!
You guys Rock. The Iceland/UK trip looked very cool (something Kit & I would like to emulate now that we find the nest substantially empty). On an entirely unrelated topic, if either of you are interested in any of the audio products offered by Polk Audio or Definitive Technologies (including some very cool portable/personal audio playback devices) let me know because there may be a “vendor accommodation” fairy I can pray to. Cheers!
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