Replies to post #9006 on NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[Evaluate]

DoktorNoLittle:

Regarding Kristen who is hoping to raise enough money to get DCVax-L treatment in Germany. I take it she is an American?

Yes, Kristen lives in Tampa Florida.
See http://www.gofundme.com/helpkristennow (It would be nice if folks on this board would decide to help her cause with a donation).

I received an email reply back from her sister Heather, indicating:

Yes, we're quite familiar with DCVax and Northwest company. This is our first choice for Kristen and we very much want her dendritic cell to come from them, however, they are not making this easy for us at all. Apparently they want 2-3g of her frozen tumor to make the vaccine and she only has 40mg. We have called and written them countless times and have received one very long email back explaining how difficult it is to obtain with them and the criteria and timing in which it needs to be done.
In the end, we still want the vaccine to come from them, but she doesn't have enough tumor saved from previous surgery and she doesn't have much tumor left to take out (it also can't be taken out).
SO... she's on a waiting list to get their vaccine for those who have inoperable tumors in the UK, but we have no idea how long that list is and can't wait much longer.
So we're entertaining another option in Dunderstadt. They make blood based vaccines and it seems to be the same general idea. She has an appointment next month to meet with the dr in NYC who is affiliated with the German doc to get things rolling. We don't know exactly what's going to happen, only that she needs to get this.
How are you so familiar with this? Are you able to help with dcvax in any way? They say that there can be exceptions with those who have less tumor available, but we haven't heard a firm yes or no. In which case we're going to get the blood based vaccine as it's our next best option.
Thank you again for reaching out!!

1) Per the above: does anybody have any suggestions on helping Kristen receive DCVax treatment? Since Kristen apparently cannot provide sufficient tumor, would DCVax-Direct (inoperable tumors) treatment be an option (although they indicated they do not like the idea of entering a trial, due to the risk of just being put on a placebo). Perhaps still suggest they try to make contact with Dr Vivek Subbiah of MD Anderson to inquire about this? Or: perhaps suggesting that they try to make contact with Dr Linda Liau at UCLA, due to her vast experience with dendritic cells treatments for brain cancer patients?

2) Since I had not heard of the alternate option she mentioned, I did a Google search, and came across this: http://cancerconfidential.wordpress.com/treatments/dendritic-cell-vaccine/
which includes:

On the first visit Dr.Nesselhut extracts the monocytes by a process called Leukapherasis. This involves an intravenous line being inserted into both arms. The blood flows out of one arm into a machine where it is spun around and where the white cells are extracted. The blood then flows back into the other arm. I was rather nervous about this procedure, as I had been told not to have any needles or injections in the arm where the lymph glands had been removed, but Dr.Nesselhut reassured me that it would be safe to go ahead. The process for me was painless and I even managed to watch a film, Revolutionary Road, during the three hours that I was attached to the machine. At the end of the process the nurse showed me a bag of pale-pink coloured liquid. This was the white blood cells that had been extracted by the machine. The cells are then taken to a laboratory where the dendritic cells are extracted and the vaccine is prepared. This takes a week.

I had decided to stay in Germany for the week and have hyperthermia treatment each day with a Dr.Martin in Gottingen. The vaccine would be sent to Dr.Martin on my last day and he would inject it. I did find the injection of the vaccine quite painful. It is injected beneath the skin and according to Dr. Martin if it doesn’t hurt he hasn’t done it right ! A second injection of interferon follows. This stops the body rejecting the dendritic cells and it leaves a stinging sensation which quickly wears off.

The vaccine did produce side effects. For about 48 hours after I experienced intense flu like symptoms. I had headaches, a high temperature and was very thirsty. I hardly slept for two days after the vaccine. I also had a shaking sensation which is called rigour. I travelled back the day after the vaccine and then rested a day before going back to work.

(BTW: I believe the correct spelling is Duderstadt instead of Dunderstadt)