Replies to post #19496 on NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[Evaluate]

DCVax-Direct - ASCO Abstract

http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/98443?media=vm

It is hard to read this greyed out version of the abstract (one needs to pay to see the real thing, I believe), but it includes some interesting things, including related to "your main vehicle" reference in your post.

Manufacturing includes novel cell processing system with following characteristics:
- Use of TFF to purify monocytes from leukapheresis material;
- Differentiate the monocytes to immature DC using GM-CSF as the only cytokine;
- Briefly activate the immature DC with killed BCG mycobacteria and interferon gamma
- Cryopreserve the final product in single doses
- Test all batches for safety and activity parameters

Preclinical Summary (re mice) - Conclusions:
* Activated DC are superior to immature DC in eradicating established tumors
* Activation conditions, including time of activation , are critical for optimal efficacy
* Both DC-injected and non-injected tumors can be eradicated, demonstrating a systemic response
* Injection of tumors with aDC confers long-term protection

Intratumoral Injection: micro-air bubbles in the tumor resulting from the injection process can be made visible ... demonstrating accurate intratumoral targeting.

[Evaluate]

Also related to BCG etc:
www.who.int/biologicals/areas/vaccines/bcg/en/
BCG vaccine

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http://sttp.healthsciences.ucla.edu/abstract/sttp-abstract-current?abstract_id=2455
UCLA portal – David Geffen School of Medicine
Short Term Training Program Student Abstracts

T Lymphocyte Activation and Proliferation with BCG Stimulation of Patients Receiving Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy: A Phase II DCVax-Direct Trial
Jeffrey Lin, Joseph Antonios, Sylvia Odesa, Horacio Soto, Robert M Prins, Linda M Liau
695 Charles E. Young Drive South Gonda 1554 Los Angeles, CA 90095

DCVax-Direct is an autologous cellular immunotherapy involving intratumoral injection to solid tumors as an adjuvant traditional therapies. The injection consists of autlogous DCs activated with bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) and interferon (IFN)-gamma. Culture with BCG and IFN-gamma activates DCs, upregulating cell surface proteins involved in antigen presentation and T cell stimulation.
Patient peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) and serum were collected at day 0, week 8, and week 16 before each vaccination. We hypothesize that the vaccine creates an inflammatory response, and exposure of PBMCs to BCG will cause T cell activation and proliferation.
Luminex technology was used to evaluate cytokine levels in patient serum.
PBMCs were labeled with Cell Proliferation Dye (CPD) and cultured with inactivated BCG, and T cell proliferation was assessed using fluorescent target array technology.
Levels of proinflammatory cytokines were higher and anti-inflammatory cytokines were lower in serum collected at later time points.
CD4+ and CD8+ T cells exposed to BCG showed increased proliferation in patient PBMCs collected at later time points.
The data suggest that treatment with DCVax Direct promotes an inflammatory response that can decrease tumor burden through upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines.
Activation and proliferation of lymphocytes exposed to BCG suggest that DCs are presenting BCG and likely tumor antigens to patient T cells allowing for a targeted immune response.
Submitted by [e-mail], under the supervision of Linda, Liau M.D. Ph.D., submited on July 24, 2014

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http://www.gbmvaccine.com/adjuvants.html
non-specific immunotherapies and adjuvants
learn about the science behind dcvax

[sentiment_stocks]

After reading through the information on this link, our problems and discussions here about the share price of NWBO just PALE in comparison.

And here's something I got a lot out of reading: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jun/19/living-death-terminal-illness-cancer

The worst is at night when I am in bed. Lying there on my own I start thinking about funerals and I get the horrors. I'll be sitting watching telly and suddenly remember that I'm dying. There are moments where my brain swirls and I think of things I've done and people I've hurt in the past. It's a suffocating feeling, all jumbled thoughts – it's 60 years of memories at once. I've found a cure though: I just get in the bath. That's the only thing that relaxes me now.

I worked all my life and retired at 60, then I get told at 61 that I have a few years left and that I'm going to die. I'm pissed off. I wouldn't want anybody to upset me,, five years of hate would all go into that one person – that's part of the reason I don't drink. Losing my independence really gets to me. I worked in demolition all my life and all of a sudden I can't even paint a wall.

or...

It took me a week to stop crying because I was so scared. The specialist suggested a CT scan to make sure everything was in order for surgery and this scan revealed growths on my liver. I was referred to a liver specialist who carried out an MRI scan and said: "I think we need to try some chemotherapy," which was enough for me to understand what was happening to me. It was cancer and it had spread from bowel to liver...

What's cruel about this illness is that I've been given a time limit. Life is so precious and we all believe we're invincible, but I know what's happening to my body. Somebody asked me recently how I cope with despair, and the only answer that I could come up with is that what keeps me going is the hope that everything will somehow be OK. I've been told I have a terminal illness, and I get that, but if I didn't wake up every morning hopeful, then I wouldn't get out of bed, get dressed, eat or breathe. What's anyone without hope?

or how about...

I feel lucky in that I've had time to prepare. The reality is, we're all going to die – it's just I know of what and that my time is sooner rather than later. There won't be any hymns at my funeral. Hopefully, mine will be the last one of the day and I'll go out to Eric Clapton's "Layla" – turned up really, really loud.

and finally...

I thought about committing suicide early on, but I'm pleased I didn't as I'd have missed some wonderful experiences. Seeing my children grow up is by far the most rewarding reason for living. I believe I've achieved more during my time with MND than when I was well. I was in a bad place for the first few years, but in 2005 I got a laptop which I could operate with my chin. That changed everything and I started writing about my experiences. I only read negative stories about MND after I was diagnosed, so I hope I have helped other sufferers.

I thought about death all the time initially, but I rarely do now. I'm too busy getting on with life. I felt hopeless after my diagnosis, but managed to overcome that with support. I've attended my local hospice since 2001 and the staff help me with emotional and medical problems. I believe all difficulties can be solved with the right resources – I've been fortunate to find them. I suppose that I'm trying to say that however bad life appears to be, there is always hope. I feel as if I've been given a window of opportunity, not a death sentence. I'm going to make the most of it.

Most of us have endless amounts of time left. These people don't. We don't think we're going to die tomorrow, or next week, and we don't know from what we're going to die of. I'm going to remember that the next time I stress and worry about something. Because even though it might be important, what these people are going through is far worse.