From Stage 4 to cancer free, Oklahoma woman beats the odds

KFOR Oklahoma's News 4

8 Jul 202405:17

Summary

TLDRA remarkable story of hope and medical breakthrough: Terry, diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December 2020, is now cancer-free after a groundbreaking personalized treatment. Through genetic sequencing, doctors targeted hundreds of mutations in her tumor, which led to the tumors shrinking to two spots and eventually being surgically removed. The unnamed drug, still in phase one trials, has shown such promising results that it could expedite its path to market, offering a new hope for future cancer patients.

Takeaways

🌟 A patient diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer at OU Health in Oklahoma has become cancer-free after treatment.
🎯 The treatment used is a new drug that has not yet been released to the market and is currently in phase one of clinical trials.
🔬 The drug targets specific mutations in the tumor, providing a personalized medicine approach based on the sequencing of hundreds of genes.
📉 The patient, Terry, had hundreds of mutations in her tumor, which were targeted by the new drug, leading to a significant reduction in cancerous spots.
🏥 Doctors at OU Health believe they are on to something significant with the success of this personalized treatment approach.
💊 The unnamed drug is in pill form and has shown promising results in mice, but its safety and efficacy in humans are still under investigation.
🛑 Terry's cancer treatment was stopped in August 2023, and since then, no trace of cancer has been found, marking a miraculous outcome.
🔍 A PET scan, which is used to detect cancer, came back negative for Terry, indicating no presence of cancerous tissue.
👨‍⚕️ Dr. Laura Fisher surgically removed the remaining tumors, which were later confirmed to be non-viable tissue under the microscope.
🔑 The success of Terry's case could potentially expedite the approval process for the new drug, as it demonstrates a positive response in a human subject.
❤️ Terry's husband was a constant support throughout her treatment journey, never missing an appointment and staying by her side.

Q & A

What medical condition was the woman diagnosed with?
-The woman was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
What is the significance of the woman's current condition after treatment?
-The woman is now cancer-free, which is significant as it demonstrates the effectiveness of the treatment she underwent.
What type of treatment was used to cure the woman's cancer?
-A new, unnamed drug in Phase 1 clinical trials was used, which targets mutations in the tumor through personalized medicine.
What does the Phase 1 clinical trial determine about a drug?
-Phase 1 clinical trials determine if a drug is safe to use in humans.
What was unique about Terry's case compared to other pancreatic cancer patients?
-Terry had hundreds of mutations in her tumor that could be targeted, which is unusual and contributed to her successful treatment.
How did the doctors approach Terry's treatment?
-Doctors sequenced Terry's tumor for hundreds of genes and targeted the specific mutations found within it.
What was the outcome of the treatment on Terry's cancer?
-The treatment resulted in Terry's tumors shrinking to just two spots, which were later surgically removed.
What was the role of the unnamed drug in Terry's treatment?
-The unnamed drug, in its Phase 1 trial, targeted the mutations in Terry's cancer and contributed to her becoming cancer-free.
What does a negative PET scan indicate for a cancer patient?
-A negative PET scan indicates that there is no visible cancer present in the body.
How long is the typical process for drugs to hit the market after clinical trials begin?
-The process for drugs to hit the market is typically about a 10-year process from the start of clinical trials.
What impact could Terry's case have on the development of the unnamed drug?
-Terry's case could potentially expedite the drug's approval process due to her remarkable response to the treatment.

Outlines

00:00

✨ Miraculous Recovery from Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

A story of hope unfolds as doctors at OU Health successfully treat a woman diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Initially diagnosed in December 2020, the patient, Terry, underwent multiple treatments and trials. Despite the grim prognosis, Terry's doctors applied personalized medicine by targeting specific mutations in her tumor. Astonishingly, her cancer shrank to just two spots, which were later surgically removed. By August 2023, Terry was declared cancer-free, thanks to a groundbreaking new drug still in its trial phase. This drug, not yet on the market, showed remarkable results and could potentially expedite its availability to help others.

05:01

💪 Unwavering Support and Determination

Terry's journey to becoming cancer-free was marked by relentless support from her husband, who never missed any of her numerous doctor appointments. Their strong bond and determination played a crucial role in her fight against cancer. This inspiring story of resilience and support underscores the importance of determination and a solid support system in overcoming life's toughest challenges.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is an advanced form of cancer where the disease has spread beyond the pancreas to other parts of the body. In the script, Terry was diagnosed with this severe condition, which typically has a very low survival rate. This term is crucial for understanding the gravity of Terry's medical situation and the significance of her miraculous recovery.

💡Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine involves tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, often based on genetic information. In the video, doctors sequenced Terry's tumor to identify specific mutations that could be targeted with specialized treatments, illustrating a key concept in modern oncology.

💡Clinical Trial

A clinical trial is a research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. Terry participated in clinical trials for an experimental drug that eventually led to her being cancer-free. This concept is central to the video as it highlights the experimental and hopeful nature of her treatment.

💡Mutation

A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of a cell. In the context of the video, Terry's tumor had hundreds of mutations, which the doctors targeted with personalized treatments. Understanding mutations is key to grasping how personalized medicine can work to treat cancer.

💡Phase One Trial

Phase one trials are the first stage of testing a new drug in humans to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects. The experimental drug that helped Terry was in a phase one trial, highlighting its early stage of development and the initial focus on safety and efficacy.

💡Tumor Sequencing

Tumor sequencing involves analyzing the DNA of cancer cells to identify genetic mutations that can be targeted with specific treatments. In the video, this technique was used to find actionable mutations in Terry's cancer, leading to a tailored and effective treatment approach.

💡Surgical Removal

Surgical removal refers to the physical extraction of tumors from the body. Dr. Laura Fisher performed a challenging procedure to remove Terry's remaining tumors, which was a crucial step in her journey to becoming cancer-free. This emphasizes the role of surgery in comprehensive cancer treatment.

💡Metastasis

Metastasis is the process by which cancer spreads from the primary site to other parts of the body. Terry's diagnosis included metastatic pancreatic cancer, meaning the disease had spread, which is often associated with poorer outcomes and more complex treatment challenges.

💡PET Scan

A PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography) is an imaging test that helps reveal how tissues and organs are functioning. In the video, a PET scan confirmed that there was no viable cancer tissue left in Terry after her treatment, marking a significant milestone in confirming her cancer-free status.

💡Experimental Drug

An experimental drug is a medication that is not yet approved for general use but is being tested in clinical trials. The drug that helped Terry was an unnamed experimental drug in pill form targeting specific mutations, highlighting the innovative and cutting-edge nature of her treatment.

Highlights

A woman diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer is now cancer-free after treatment.

The treatment used is not only effective for the patient but also has the potential to help others and get the drug on the market sooner.

The woman, Terry, underwent multiple treatments and showed no trace of cancer after the treatment.

Doctors at OU Health sequenced the tumor for hundreds of genes to find mutations that could be targeted for a personalized medicine approach.

Terry's tumor had hundreds of mutations, which was unusual and allowed for a more targeted treatment.

After years on the trial, Terry's cancer shrank to just two spots.

Surgical removal of the tumors was successful, and the tissue was found to be non-viable under the microscope.

A PET scan showed no signs of cancer, leading doctors to stop all cancer treatment for Terry in August 2023.

The new drug used in Terry's treatment is in phase one trials and does not yet have a name.

Phase one trials determine if a drug is safe for use, with the drug showing promising results in mice.

Phase two trials focus on specific tumor types, and phase three compares the new drug to the standard of care.

Terry's miraculous outcome is expected to help the unnamed drug get accelerated approval.

The drug development process typically takes about 10 years for drugs to hit the market.

Terry's husband never missed any of her appointments and was always by her side throughout the treatment.

The story emphasizes the importance of determination in fighting cancer.