From Stage 4 to cancer free, Oklahoma woman beats the odds
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
- π A patient diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer at OU Health in Oklahoma has become cancer-free after treatment.
- π― 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.
- π¬ The drug targets specific mutations in the tumor, providing a personalized medicine approach based on the sequencing of hundreds of genes.
- π 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.
- π₯ Doctors at OU Health believe they are on to something significant with the success of this personalized treatment approach.
- π 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.
- π Terry's cancer treatment was stopped in August 2023, and since then, no trace of cancer has been found, marking a miraculous outcome.
- π A PET scan, which is used to detect cancer, came back negative for Terry, indicating no presence of cancerous tissue.
- π¨ββοΈ Dr. Laura Fisher surgically removed the remaining tumors, which were later confirmed to be non-viable tissue under the microscope.
- π 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.
- β€οΈ 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
β¨ 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.
πͺ 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
π‘Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer
π‘Personalized Medicine
π‘Clinical Trial
π‘Mutation
π‘Phase One Trial
π‘Tumor Sequencing
π‘Surgical Removal
π‘Metastasis
π‘PET Scan
π‘Experimental Drug
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.
Transcripts
FRIDAY AND THAT WEEKEND COMING
UP. ALL RIGHT. MY THAT WAS A
BEAUTIFUL SKY OUT THERE
TONIGHT. NOW TO A STORY OF
HOPE. DOCTORS AT OU HEALTH'S,
OKLAHOMA WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH
STAGE 4 PANCREATIC CANCER IS
NOW CANCER FREE. YES. AND
AFTER UNDERGOING MULTIPLE
THERE'S NO TRACE OF IT. AND
THE TREATMENT USED TO CURE
THIS WOMAN IS NOT ONLY WORKING
AT OTHER PATIENTS, BUT HER
MIRACULOUS OUTCOME IS ALSO
GET THE DRUG ON THE MARKET
SOONER TO HELP OTHERS. NEWS
FOUR'S JO LYNN CHENEY
EXPLAINS. WHEN TOGETHER 24 7.
WE GET ALL OF PICKY.
SOMETIMES, BUT WE NEVER FEST
LIFE. THERE ARE MANY SIGNS. I
WAS TIRED ALL THE TIME. WHAT
SOME BELIEVE ARE NATURE'S WAY
A FORESHADOWING STAGE 4
PANCREATIC CANCER.
DEVASTATION. I THINK IT
AFFECTED HIM MORE THAN IT DID
MAY. WHEN WE GOT MARRIED, SHE
SAID IT'S FOREVER AND THE
PREACHER, THE PREACHER MAN
THAT MARY THIS, HE SAID.
TIME THAT
IN DECEMBER 2020 TERRY WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE 4
METASTATIC PANCREATIC CANCER
FOOD AND ITS SPREAD EVERYWHERE
FOR PANCREATIC CANCER HAS THE
LOWEST SURVIVAL RATE OF ALL
PATIENTS DO NOT SURVIVE.
PAST A YEAR, THERE IS
TO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF TREATMENTS FOR PANCREAS
CANCER, FOR EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW,
WE REALLY HAVE 2 LINES OF
THERAPY AND THEN SO WE REALLY
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE FOR
THOSE PATIENTS BECAUSE IT
SIMPLY DOESN'T EXIST.
THAT HARRY'S TEAM OF
DOCTORS BELIEVES THEY'RE ON TO
SOMETHING. WHAT WE DO IS THAT
WE SEQUENCE THE TUMOR FOR
HUNDREDS OF TEENS. AND THEN IF
THERE ARE CERTAIN MUTATIONS IN
TUMOR THAT WE CAN TARGET, YOU
CAN MORE OF A PERSONALIZED
MEDICINE. THAT SOMETHING IS
AND THE RESULTS WERE
ASTONISHING. SHOWED TO MY
SURPRISE. I'M USUALLY IN SIDE
WE CAN TARGET.
TERRY WAS DIFFERENT. TERRY
HAD HUNDREDS OF MUTATIONS AND
TARGETED MANY OF THE VERY
MUTATIONS TERRY SHE STAYED ON
THE TRIAL FOR YEARS BEFORE
BEGINNING A SECOND TRIAL. AND
TARGETED MUTATIONS. AND TERRY
SCAN, SIR, SHRINK TO JUST 2
SPOTS.
I WAS LIKE HOW WE THINK
OUTSIDE THE BOX. SHE'S NOT A
NORMAL PATIENT. YOU KNOW, SHE
WAS DIAGNOSED IN DECEMBER OF
2020. WE ARE NOW IN 2023 AND
THIS IS ALL DECEASED. YOU HAVE
THESE 2 SPOTS, THOUGH. WE
COULD SEE.
DOCTOR LAURA FISHER THEN
SURGICALLY REMOVED THE TUMORS.
IT WAS QUITE A CHALLENGING
PROCEDURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
GET THEM OUT. 7 HAVE AN
IMPACT. COULD BELIEVE IT?
LOOKED LIKE GOLD. TO AND SO
SHE TOOK EVERYTHING OUT AND
THEN WE LOOK AT IT ON TO THE
MICROSCOPE. IT'S ALL THAT NO
VIABLE TISSUE AT ALL. AND SO
WE DO A PET AND THE PET SCAN
IS NEGATIVE. YOU CAN SEE
CANCER ON PET DOCTORS STOPPED
ALL OF TERRY'S CANCER
TREATMENT IN AUGUST OF 2023.
AND TO THIS DAY CAN FIND NO
TRACE OF CANCER. THIS IS A NEW
DRUG THAT'S NOT ON THE MARKET.
IT'S A BRIGHT NEW DRUG.
AND SHE HAD THIS TYPE OF
RESPONSE WHERE WE CAN SEE ANY
MORE CANCELED.
IT'S SO NEW. IT DOESN'T
HAVE A NAME AND IT'S NOT ON
THE MARKET. IT'S A PHASE ONE
TRIAL IN A PILL FORM THAT
TARGETS YOU TAISHA THERE ARE 3
TRIAL PHASES OF CANCER
TREATMENT. PHASE. ONE
DETERMINES IF A DRUG IS SAFE
TO USE. IT WORKS REALLY WELL
IN MICE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S GOING TO WORK AND THE
PEOPLE AND WE DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE AND
PEOPLE IN PHASE 2 DOCTORS
FOCUS ON SPECIFIC TUMOR TYPES.
AND STAGE 3. THE NEW DRUG IS
GIVEN INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL
STANDARD OF CARE, WANT TO HAVE
DELAYS. I WANTED TO IT IS A
MIRACLE. AND AND THAT'S THE
THING. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN
WE DO CLINICAL TRIALS.
WE DON'T KNOW. ALWAYS WHAT
TO EXPECT FROM START TO FINISH
ITS ABOUT A 10 YEAR PROCESS
FOR DRUGS TO HIT THE MARKET.
STILL IN CLINICAL
DEVELOPMENT, THIS UNNAMED DRUG
WILL MOST LIKELY GET
CELEBRATED APPROVAL. THANKS.
IN PART TO TERRY'S OUTCOME, IS
THIS CASE GOING TO HELP THAT?
YES.
IT'S VERY UNIQUE. I MEAN,
SHE IS THAT A VERY UNIQUE
AFTER MULTIPLE EXPERIMENTS AND
HUNDREDS OF DOCTORS
APPOINTMENTS PROBABLY MORE.
TERRY, HE'S CANCER FREE. HER
HUSBAND NEVER MISSED ANY OF
THOSE APPOINTMENTS. NEVER LEFT
HER SIDE.
2 IN A POD. THAT'S WHAT WE
IN ORDER TO FIGHT. YOU GOT TO
HAVE DETERMINATION. I HAVE A
LOT OF IT.
NEXT IN WEATHER, AMAZING
STORY RIGHT THERE. FOLKS ARE
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