Hi everyone --

Here's our next update on the Hopkins HPV-16 vaccine trial. Barry went up on the 25th for a physical exam by his MO, chest xray, some blood work (CBC) and a skin test (tetanus and candida). All the tests were normal, his blood counts in fact are normal in almost all respects.

The next day was not too much fun, as he had a leukophoresis. This was a harvesting of white blood cells for initial immunological testing. This is done much the same way as platelet collection, for those who have donated platelets -- over two hours his blood was passed through a machine which differentally took out white cells and returned the rest to his body. The nurses at the hematology unit were great, the "victim" lies in a recliner with a heating pad, covered with blankets, and watches one of a huge collection of DVDs on a big screen TV. The nurses leap to bring water or juice. Barry was concerned about this (the idea of having one's blood taken out and put back in IS a bit disconcerting) but it went well and he really didn't feel anything much. He was a bit light-headed for a few minutes, so he sat and watched the end of the video. Then we went up to the Hopkins cafeteria and had a big lunch of Swedish meatballs, rice and green beans. The security guard -- when you pass him to go to the cafe -- always jokingly says, "good luck, hope you come back" but actually the food there is very good. It was our first stop after Barry had his radiation morning treatments, but in those days he could only eat the soup!

The next step is his first vaccine inoculation, this will be the third week of October. Then two more inoculations at two-week intervals, and then a final one 12 weeks out. There will be another leukophoresis as well, as well as tests for HPV in serum and blood, and other blood work.

Eventually the pre-and post-vaccine white cells will be tested to see if, after the vaccinations, Barry's immune system has an improved response to the virus. This phase of the trial uses four concentrations of the vaccine (no placebo) to see which produces the best immune response. We do not know what level Barry has gotten. The concentrations being tested are based on animal trials and a cervical cancer trial which got underway last year.

The upside for Barry is that the initial trials indicate that the vaccine helps the body "clear" the virus so it may do the same for him. There seem to be no significant side effects, at least in the short term.

While at Hopkins we were told that the rate of participation in cancer clinical trials is very low and that this is hampering a lot of testing of new treatments. I should mention that the Hopkins trial is still recruiting, you can go to their web site and search for HPV head and neck cancer trials.

Gail