| | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 | I recently attended a medical conference where very interesting information was presented. Preliminary studies from John Hopkins suggested that erectile dysfunction drugs (e.g. Cialis, Viagra) can stimulate the immune systems of patient�s with head and necks cancers so they can better battle cancer cells. This is interesting information because it is a new approach of treatment with agents so far not used to treat cancer.
Studies performed so far are only test tube ones done in blood samples collected from patients. Although the results are promising clinical studies are needed to evaluate if the administration of erectile dysfunction drugs can be helpful in treating head and neck cancers.
I want to caution that these results are very preliminary and more research is needed. However, they offer hope for new type of treatment in the future.
Itzhak Brook MD | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Hey Doc
I was going to post an encouraging "Keep it up" (heh heh) but seriously: any indication ED drugs work to prevent recurrence?
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Sheesh... I could become a downright horndog and it would help with cancer as well - double bonus- but what if I don't have a erectable appendage dis functional or otherwise ? :o0
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | As much as I would want to I'll defer my comments on the poster boy picture of the treatment of the future until this is studied more.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | There would probably be a lot of happy volunteers should research go for human subjects. And if the human subjects are cancer patients undergoing Rad Tx, I wonder how that would work. . . . maybe an additional mask? I agree with David in that more study is in order.
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 | There are currently studies that are conducted in patients with head and neck cancer that are performed in J Hopkins as well as other centers. Hopefully the results will be good. ED agents are considered as singlet herapy , and in combination with chemotherapy and irradiation.
it is good to know that there are potential new avenues of treatment and sometimes some that no one thought about before.
Itzhak Brook MD | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Thanks, Dr. B - It is very gratifying to hear how researchers are considering all the many aspects of therapy and applying them in the treatment of oral cancer. If it does have a positive effect on the immune system, would it not follow that it could help in preventing a recurrence of oral cancer?
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 26 | I googled the ed drug in regard to head and neck cancer and found this VERY interesting so wanted to share the link! I know the study at Johns Hopkins started in 2009 but it does not look like it is ongoing and I can't find any results. They do have current trials with cialis and multiple myeloma so there must be some positive results. BTW...I read that cialis is more effective than viagra because it has a longer drug life... Best wishes, Robin http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/health&id=7294934
Robin, caregiver to husband, Andy (57 yo non-smoker)
1/2011 dx scc stage 4 -primary- tonsil/bot
2/2011 surgery/rnd/ imrt rad/ 3 cycles cisplatin
6/2011 recurrence - mets to bone
7/2011 tx carbo/erbitux/5 FU- pet showed disease progression
11/2011- present clinical trial
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | NOW they figure this out!
(thanks for posting, Dr. Brook)
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | There are some people on this board, who would NOT see a longer half life as an advantage robinleigh  But seriously, interesting idea to dose once a day for 14 days for H&N C(which is when longer half life becomes an advantage). My concern with this article is the doctor's suggestion of being "one of the safest drugs around" (translation: few side effects) ... I beg to differ. What about walking around with an erection for 14 days? And the crushing headache both formulations come with? And isn't there risk of heart attack for those with dicky hearts? Granted the side effects are minimal compared with radiation, but a bit of a misleading statement in my opinion.
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED Still underweight
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 26 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 26 | Yes, those commercials say there are so many side effects of ed drugs. Guess we have to weigh the pros and cons. I'm still going to try to find more information about results from their study. We have an appt. at Johns Hopkins on Nov. 18th so I will surely ask about it. Until then, if anybody finds more infor. please post!
Robin, caregiver to husband, Andy (57 yo non-smoker)
1/2011 dx scc stage 4 -primary- tonsil/bot
2/2011 surgery/rnd/ imrt rad/ 3 cycles cisplatin
6/2011 recurrence - mets to bone
7/2011 tx carbo/erbitux/5 FU- pet showed disease progression
11/2011- present clinical trial
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | [quote=klo]What about walking around with an erection for 14 days? [/quote]
Karen... how'd you know about my adolescence!!
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 |
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED Still underweight
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Doesn't anyone see the irony of a drug that promotes sexual activity helping to cure a cancer caused by sexual activity? Perhaps there's a greater picture that we are all missing.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 | Hmm, clinical trial sounds like a lot of fun... just don't get the pill caught in your throat, might get a stiff neck. | | |
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