Hi all --

Next update on HPV-16 vaccine trial -- today was the day for Barry's first inoculation with the new vaccine. The day started (as usual) with blood taken and vital signs (good news, he's gained a couple more pounds since last visit) -- then a physical exam and chat with MO, then up to the chemo section where the inoculation is actually given. Although no one (so far) has shown any initial side effects, they are being careful and so they monitored him for an hour afterwards, vital signs (pulse, breathing, temperature and BP) every 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine. It was a non-event, fortunately, and after an hour we went to lunch and then a final check-in at the two-hour mark.

In 48 hours he goes up again for a skin check (for rash, etc.) and then in a week, the same, then another week and the second injection. (Four total).

We did find out he is in the second cohort so is getting second (of four) vaccine dosage.

No one is quite sure if (and where) HPV may linger in the body of a person who has had apparently successful treatment and has no detectable cancer. That is actually being investigated in another study Barry's in -- where they are looking at HPV markers (DNA and DNA fragments) in blood and sera of patients pre-, during and post-treatment over some years. Study is still ongoing, and not sure if any preliminary results yet.

Gail