bon_vivant Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Haven't heard about this vaccine before, when I'm searching the web for information about this protein I can't find much. Is this something sensational or just another small biotech-company heading towards the slippery slope of epic failness? Do you guys know anything about this specific technology? Where can I read more about it since I find it very interesting? What do you guys think about their success rate? Isn't this a really big thing if it happens to kill the metastatic cancer cells? If I've understood everything correct, a cancer patient will use conventional treatments for their parent tumor, and use this vaccine for the metastatic part of the cancer cells. They released this news last week (since I don't speak nor understand swedish/danish I google translated it):"RhoVac AB ("RhoVac") today announced, on May 19, 2017, that the first three patients in the company's clinical phase I / II study with RhoVac's cancer vaccine RV001 have now undergone a comprehensive safety assessment. The conclusion of this evaluation is that no safety issues hinder the continuation of the scheduled study, which means that future patients can start the study at shorter intervals. RhoVac's Phase I / II clinical trial, comprising approximately 20 patients with diagnosed prostate cancer in control phase, started earlier this year and early April, the company announced that the first patient was dosed. As prescribed in the clinical protocol, the first patient should have received two injections before the other patient can be treated. Provided no safety risks have been noted in the evaluation of the first patient after two doses, the other patient may be treated. Likewise, patients are evaluated number two and three, after which treatment of remaining patients can be started at shorter intervals, following collateral safety assessment of the first three patients. The overall safety assessment of the first three patients in RhoVac's clinical study has now been terminated by the Safety Review Committee and the conclusion is that no safety issues hinder the continuation of the scheduled study. Therefore, the remaining patients in the study can now start at shorter intervals, and thus the study can progress according to plan, with scheduled completion and reporting in Q2 2018." The Scientific Concept The immune system contains T cells. These can be programmed to become killer cells trained to find and eliminate cancer cells. Cancer cell membranes display bound complexes of fragments (a “fingerprint”) of the proteins that are present inside the cell. These protein fragments, and thus the fingerprint, can provide information about the cancer cell. For example, a high concentration (overexpression) of the protein RhoC indicates the cell is a cancer cell with the potential to metastasise. It is these cancer cells, with the fingerprint of overexpressed RhoC protein, that T cells can be programmed to recognise and eliminate using RhoVac’s cancer vaccine product RV001. Upregulation (overexpression) of RhoC occurs in the cancer stage when cancer cells acquire the capacity to metastasise, or spread. This is often the stage when the disease is diagnosed. The immune system will only have been exposed to overexpression of RhoC for a relatively short period of time when the cancer vaccine therapy starts. This means the body’s acceptance of overexpressed RhoC will be less developed. The immune system can therefore more easily identify this overexpression as foreign and consequently attack the overexpressed cells. RhoVac’s concept focuses on eliminating metastatic cancer cells that may escape treatment of the parent tumour via other methods. Because RhoC is not expressed in the parent tumour, the company goal is to use the developed product in combination with another therapy — specifically, treatment of the parent tumour by e.g. surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, followed by treatment with the therapeutic cancer vaccine to combat metastasis. Main Candidate RV001 RV001 – an antigen – is administered through injection under the patient’s skin. RV001 encounters dendritic cells – a type of white blood cell with a regulatory function in the immune system – which are present in the skin. These cells are specialised to capture, absorb and process antigens. These dendritic cells interact with naïve T cells, converting them to become target-specific killer cells. Helper cells are also formed, whose function is to strengthen the immune system’s disease-fighting capacity. A specific immune response is thus established against cells overexpressing RhoC –metastatic cancer cells. This response involves killer cells attacking the cancer cells and helper cells producing cytokines that strengthen the anticancer immune response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StringJunky Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 You need to wait and see if it reaches Phase III trials. Here's info about trials: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/what-clinical-trials-are/phases-of-clinical-trials Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceman Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Rhovac has just released their website in English. There you can read more. http://www.rhovac.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bon_vivant Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 You need to wait and see if it reaches Phase III trials. Here's info about trials: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/what-clinical-trials-are/phases-of-clinical-trials Thank you StringJunky. I am well aware about the processes of different phase studies. I just wanted to hear your guys opinion about this new vaccine. Is this a hobby forum, or do people here work with immunology as their profession, if not, are their any forums where I can find this expertise? Have a great day! Rhovac has just released their website in English. There you can read more. http://www.rhovac.com Thanks, I just noticed it after I posted my post, lol. Do you have any opinions about this vaccine? Can't find anything of relevance on the internet. Seems like it's some kind of new technology. I would really want to speak with someone who could explain this vaccine for me. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimreepr Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Thank you StringJunky. I am well aware about the processes of different phase studies. I just wanted to hear your guys opinion about this new vaccine. Is this a hobby forum, or do people here work with immunology as their profession, if not, are their any forums where I can find this expertise? Have a great day! What more can anyone say than "looks great let's hope it passes the trials", whatever their expertise? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bon_vivant Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 What more can anyone say than "looks great let's hope it passes the trials", whatever their expertise? Well, I don't work in the field of immunology, I'm only interested in it. So I have a lot more less knowledge compared to someone working with it? Is this forum mostly for people like me who are "only" interested with it, but lack any deeper knowledge? Don't mean to sound rude or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimreepr Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Well, I don't work in the field of immunology, I'm only interested in it. So I have a lot more less knowledge compared to someone working with it? Is this forum mostly for people like me who are "only" interested with it, but lack any deeper knowledge? Don't mean to sound rude or anything. This isn't rude but your reply to 'string' was, which inspired my post, and it's point, you'll need to be more specific. What is it you want to know? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StringJunky Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 What more can anyone say than "looks great let's hope it passes the trials", whatever their expertise? Indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharonY Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Well, I don't work in the field of immunology, I'm only interested in it. So I have a lot more less knowledge compared to someone working with it? Is this forum mostly for people like me who are "only" interested with it, but lack any deeper knowledge? Don't mean to sound rude or anything. Not an immunologist but the approach is one of many in the area of cancer immunotherapies. As with all approaches, it has to show the right balance between efficacy and potential harmful effects. One has to understand that in most cases therapies are not designed around bold ideas or precise models that whose merit can be discussed in a theoretical manner. Rather most of the time we e.g. analyze cancer cells and try to find molecular markers that are significantly different to reference cells. Then one tries whether there are ways to leverage these differences to specifically target those cells. This could be by trying to develop a specific delivery mechanism of cytotoxins or, as in the case above the use of biologics. Why some work and some others don't is often unknown and mostly derived from empirical studies (i.e. animal and then human trials). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmydasaint Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) Well, I don't work in the field of immunology, I'm only interested in it. So I have a lot more less knowledge compared to someone working with it? Is this forum mostly for people like me who are "only" interested with it, but lack any deeper knowledge? Don't mean to sound rude or anything. Wow. Well I have a PhD in Immunology and have forgotten more than you will ever know about Immunology (wink). I don't mean to be rude of course but did you not understand the clear explanation given? (wink again). In animal models, to be precise, mouse models, RhoC is over-expressed only in metastatic cells. That means that it seems to be essential in freeing up cells from the original parent tumour and allowing them to escape in the bloodstream to form secondary tumours. However, these are animal models of disease and there is no guarantee that there will be success in treating humans. Also, you were correct, the primary treatment will be surgical or chemotherapeutic but then, if caught early, the vaccine will be administered to "catch" cancer cells with over-expressed RhoC and for them to be destroyed by cytotoxic T cells. This is not a treatment for all cancers but, for a significant number of cancers, it represents real hope. Is it good news from an immunological point of view? Yes. Treatment with siRNA has already stopped significant metastasis apparently. If you want to invest money with these guys and your clients are rich, then go with the investment. Edited June 1, 2017 by jimmydasaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bon_vivant Posted June 2, 2017 Author Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) Wow. Well I have a PhD in Immunology and have forgotten more than you will ever know about Immunology (wink). I don't mean to be rude of course but did you not understand the clear explanation given? (wink again). In animal models, to be precise, mouse models, RhoC is over-expressed only in metastatic cells. That means that it seems to be essential in freeing up cells from the original parent tumour and allowing them to escape in the bloodstream to form secondary tumours. However, these are animal models of disease and there is no guarantee that there will be success in treating humans. Also, you were correct, the primary treatment will be surgical or chemotherapeutic but then, if caught early, the vaccine will be administered to "catch" cancer cells with over-expressed RhoC and for them to be destroyed by cytotoxic T cells. This is not a treatment for all cancers but, for a significant number of cancers, it represents real hope. Is it good news from an immunological point of view? Yes. Treatment with siRNA has already stopped significant metastasis apparently. If you want to invest money with these guys and your clients are rich, then go with the investment. Thanks man, means a lot. Already invested over 500 000 $ from my own pocket. Time will tell, good for me and mankind if it works out well, This terrible disease called cancer is the worst thing ever, hate it from the bottom of my soul. By the way, "Treatment with siRNA has already stopped significant metastasis apparently" Can you please explain what this is about? Never heard Rhovac speak about sIRNA. Edited June 2, 2017 by bon_vivant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimreepr Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 This terrible disease called cancer is the worst thing ever, Is it, are you sure about that? hate it from the bottom of my soul. Why, it doesn't hate you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bon_vivant Posted June 2, 2017 Author Share Posted June 2, 2017 Is it, are you sure about that? Why, it doesn't hate you? Those thoughts of yours are really intellectual, deep and smart. Thanks for contributing with your words of wisdom. Really means a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endy0816 Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) Thought majority of metastasis was misuse of a repair mechanism... Suppose could be a matter of degree though. Cancer isn't really like other diseases. Bound to happen eventually. No reason to hate your cells for going awry. There's also arguably worse diseases out there. Most of the negatives associated with cancer stem from the treatments rather than the cancer itself. Edited June 2, 2017 by Endy0816 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bon_vivant Posted June 2, 2017 Author Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) Thought majority of metastasis was misuse of a repair mechanism... Suppose could be a matter of degree though. Cancer isn't really like other diseases. Bound to happen eventually. No reason to hate your cells for going awry. There's also arguably worse diseases out there. Most of the negatives associated with cancer stem from the treatments rather than the cancer itself. Guess you get a different view of it when family members die from it at young ages. My best friend died when he was 20 years old from leukemia. But I guess it's no reason for hating my best friends cell. I mean, it's bound to happen so I guess you're right, what's the fuss about cancer? Edited June 2, 2017 by bon_vivant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StringJunky Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) Guess you get a different view of it when family members die from it at young ages. My best friend died when he was 20 years old from leukemia. But I guess it's no reason for hating my best friends cell. I mean, it's bound to happen so I guess you're right, what's the fuss about cancer? It's one of many things that can happen to shorten our lives. You see a lot of it, or notice it more, when you get into your fifties. I keep brushing with it but, so far, nothing definite. something will happen and one just needs to be sanguine about it and make the best of it when it does. Welcome to living! Edited June 2, 2017 by StringJunky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimreepr Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) Guess you get a different view of it when family members die from it at young ages. My best friend died when he was 20 years old from leukemia. But I guess it's no reason for hating my best friends cell. I mean, it's bound to happen so I guess you're right, what's the fuss about cancer? My son (step son) died from leukemia aged 21 (Rob Ashby (look him up) he made a mark); you can't change the past whatever your motivation. Edited June 2, 2017 by dimreepr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endy0816 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Guess you get a different view of it when family members die from it at young ages. My best friend died when he was 20 years old from leukemia. But I guess it's no reason for hating my best friends cell. I mean, it's bound to happen so I guess you're right, what's the fuss about cancer? I said it was pointless to hate it, not pointless to care about fixing it once it does occur. Probably not all types based on the Wiki(logical, considering the leukocytes), but I think it can be said that for a majority of cancers this should prove very useful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RhoC#Types_of_Cancer_RhoC_has_been_studied_in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmph Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 here, you can read about their clinical phase I/II study. 22 patients will be treated, they allready now got significant immune response in 7 of 8 patients. The 8th patient responded but not yet significantly. http://www.rhovac.com/positive-immune-monitoring-results-demonstrated-companys-cancer-vaccine-rv001/ "RhoVac AB (“RhoVac”) announced today, 13 December 2017 that the company has obtained positive INFγ ELIspot results showing that seven out of eight patients tested, respond to the RV001 vaccine and mount a significant vaccine mediated immune response." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilGeis Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) For this, immune response is necessary but not sufficient for treatment efficacy. "Although reported results are conclusive in terms of immunological response, it is the samples defined in the clinical protocol that are the basis for the final conclusion. " Haven't seen clinical protocol to understand what drives final conclusion from Phase I/II clinical. As you said, it is apparently limited as "cure" per se but targeted to prevent metastases. Since RhoC is not overexpressed in the primary tumour, the product developed by RhoVac will be used in combination with other therapies focussing on the primary tumour.”The primary tumour will be removed by e.g. surgery, radio- or chemotherapy and the metastases will be prevented or limited using our therapeutic cancer vaccine.” http://www.naringsliv.se/tidningar/2017-1/life-science/life-science/rhovac-eliminates-metastatic-cancer-cells/ Edited December 30, 2017 by PhilGeis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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