Unless you've been purposely ignoring the news for the past few decades, you may have missed the many headlines about Immunology as the clinical paradigm that's completely taken the world of cancer care news by storm. This advancement in treatment strategies is a game-changer in the fight and a confident solution in safer and more proven solutions! Today's survivors are attributing their success to Immunotherapy, bringing more patients into remission each day- instead of the "death sentence" that used to align with cancer. Meanwhile, the global community of medical researchers continue to uncover new answers as part of their united search for THAT cure - and shaping our bright new reality.


News Headlines

TELEMEDICINE: A SAFELY-PROTOCOL FOR THE IMMUNE COMPROMISED
Elderly patients or those with chronic conditions may find it difficult (and even precarious) to travel to their doctors' office and sit in a waiting room with other sick people with unknown conditions. Advancing this scenario to an electronic doctor's visit or TELEMEDICINE is an available reality that can easily address this concern. Otherwise known as the "digital house call", TeleMedicine is one of the current updates in patient care. Now, doctors and patients are able to convert many elements of the standard office visits to a virtual consultation or a remote, face-to-digital face exchange. TeleMedicine implements health-related services and shares information digitally through REMOTE communications. Patient and clinician contact and care is done electronically where much of THE CONSULTATION (such as patient advisement, reminders, education, intervention, health monitoring, and remote admissions) are done without any physical office presence required. (sponsored by: http://telemedscans.com/)

March 9, 2020
"TEACHING" T-CELLS TO KILL CANCER TUMORS (with Dr. Aisha Hasan)

The initial success achieved by all researchers during this time have set the stage for the main development of T-cell therapies for cancer. According to Dr. Hasan, "what we've been able to do right so far with T-cell therapies is cancer antigens that are ubiquitously or constantly expressed on the surface of the cell. However, the bulk of cancer associated antigens present on solid tumors are in fact intra-cellular, and not easily targeted. They cannot be targeted with the CAR-T that have been approved thus far. Therefore, T-cells engineered to express TCRs are attractive as a therapeutic approach because they are able to target intra-cellular antigens associated with tumor cells. (SEE ARTICLE LINK)
March 10, 2020
DEVELOPING CYBERKNIFE® AND THE ERA OF ETHICS IN ENGINEERING
Today's engineering and medical technology (from the late 1980s) show significant evidence of ethical standards and major consideration for patient response. Ethics in treatment engineering covers all angles considered about the innovation including: the way it is built, the materials applied, the engagement of the operator and the aftermath of the patient.. “Historically, radiation CAUSED cancer, but that's because you didn't have precision then. You were basically irradiating healthy tissue. That's what you want to avoid at all costs. So the more precise you can be, the better - and we (Accuray) pride ourselves on exquisite and unparalleled precision,” says Ms. Fleurent.
Published by the NY Cancer Resource Alliance (SEE ARTICLE LINK)
 Source: National Cancer Institute posted Mar 25, 2016 (Youtube Channel)
Who is Dr. Steven Rosenberg?
Recognized as the father if immunotherapy, Dr. Steven Rosenberg is featured in this short excerpt from the documentary, “Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, PBS”. Dr. Rosenberg of the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research discusses his work in immunotherapy and its promise for cancer patients. His journey began when he witnessed one of the rarest events in medicine—the spontaneous regression of a tumor. Early in his career, he had encountered a young man whose cancer had disappeared. Rosenberg, who’s now the chief of surgery in the National Cancer Institute (NCI), believed that the answer had to lie in the patient’s own immune system. (source link)
 Source: National Cancer Institute - Published on Jun 13, 2018 (Youtube Channel)
IMMUNOLOGY AND THE SCIENCE OF SELF-HEALING
The immune system is one of our basic and most important systems in our body designed to protect us from potential threats from outside our body, as well as from abnormalities and abnormal cells that are generated from within. It's able to accomplish this miraculous task through a combination of cells and through communication molecules called cytokines. Together, they work together to weave an impenetrable web that, in most cases, should protect us from all sorts of severe and chronic diseases. But if we're exposed to things that can damage the immune system (such as poor nutrition, infections, toxins, traumas or severe stresses) a rip in the fabric can lead to our loss of protection that could lead to severe or chronic illness.

Dr. Noelle Cutter Interview-  Source: Molloy College TV Aired October, 2019
RESEARCHERS SUPPORT IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCEMENTS FOR CANCER
The movement continues to take flight in all areas of the medical community. The NY CANCER RESOURCE ALLIANCE recently discovered this clip from the Molloy College public access broadcast (part of the Catholic Faith Network) called "Public Square 2.0" This episode features Dr. Noelle Cutter, professor of Natural Sciences/ Chemistry Dept. She discusses the modern age of clinical science and the many safer and more effective treatments available - including the benefits of Immunology. Also see Dr. Cutter's presentation @TEDx TALKS- "GetZ Approach to Curing Cancer"
Let the Body do its Job!
Biology 101 teaches us that sickness or disease comes from a WEAKENED and COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM. The body's design comes with its own army of protector cells working against outside invaders or abnormal cells where each cell type carries their own dedicated function. This specialized team of cells work together to fulfill the complex mission of protecting the body from infection or illness. (for more videos, scroll down to our educational VIDEOS section)

 

Our Own Protector Cells
To help restore our health and harmony means rebuilding the immune response. A functional immune system is based upon an intact biochemistry- the system of biochemical substances, hormones, enzymes (and the like) in our bodies. All these elements have to be intact, functional and in balance-- one to the other in order to support the immune system as efficiently as is possible. Together, they work together to protect us from all sorts of illnesses.
A Smart Answer to Cancer
ImmunologyFIRST was established for those recently diagnosed with a major chronic disease to consider some of the safer, less toxic and more effective treatment alternatives such as Integrative Onco-Immunology. Find out why immunology is fast replacing the old paradigm of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery and explore the idea of harnessing the immune system as the main proponent to the treatment process of all chronic diseases.



Pioneers of Immunology
William Bradley Coley (American Surgeon) is recognized as the 'Father of cancer immunotherapy" for his targeted therapy and Coley's toxins in the 1930's. Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch (German microbiologist) received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905 for his work in foundation work in modern bacteriology. He identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax and gave experimental support for the concept of infectious disease.

"Integrative" goes West
When it comes to problem-solving, we learn some of the best strategies from history. Eastern medicine recognizes illness as a lack of BALANCE and promotes the philosophy of a whole-body focus when treating any disorder. By working on the entire body (and not just the target issue), surviving cancer must be managed interdependently of each other- from mind, body and environment. INTEGRATIVE CLINICIANS have adapted this philosophy in the way they treat chronic patients (more)
Submissions Welcome
The editors of The NY Cancer Resource Alliance and the AngioGenesis Foundation brings you the first E-magazine featuring the clinical health movement about the many benefits of Integrative Immunology as the alternative treatment plan for cancer care. We welcome article contributors, educational videos, postcasts, news features, survivor stories and sponsors who support the science of Immuno-oncology. Contact us today at: nycralliance@gmail.com or call our editorial staff at: 631-920-5757

Educational Animated Videos about Immunology

Immunotherapy & Chemotherapy: What's the Difference?
Published on May 31, 2016 | Cancer Research Institute (link) Immunotherapy is a new type of cancer treatment that uses your body's own immune system to fight cancer. Unlike chemotherapy that attacks tumors directly, immunotherapy treats YOU and YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM by activating a robust and stronger immune response and it can teach your immune system how to spot cancer cells and destroy them. To learn more, visit CancerResearch.org/Treatments.
Immunology wars: Monoclonal antibodies
Published on Apr 3, 2017 | NatureVideo/Springer (link) Our immune systems are at war with cancer. This animation reveals how monoclonal antibodies can act as valuable reinforcements to shore up our defences – and help battle cancer. Our immune system already creates its own effective antibodies coming in billions of variations matching a specific target - marking toxins, bacteria or virus for destruction.

 


Can our own immune system be stimulated to fight cancer?
Published on Jul 25, 2017 | ResearchFeatures.com (link) The Dr Xuemei Zhong, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, in the Haematology and Oncology section of the department. Her research looks at how the ‘intelligent’ human immune system can be stimulated to fight diseases like cancer without reliance on high doses of drugs and short-lived therapies, with a particular focus on a process called immunosurveillance.
Immune System: Innate and Adaptive Immunity Explained
Published on Jul 26, 2018 | Science ABC (link) The immune system can be divided into two types - innate and adaptive immunity. The innate immune system consists of defenses against infection that are activated instantly as a pathogen attacks. Adaptive immunity (or acquired immunity) is a subsystem of the immune system that contains highly specialized systemic cells and processes that kill pathogens and prevent their growth in the body.

 

Immunology Articles from Relevant Publications

ENGINEERED KILLER T-CELLS COULD PROVIDE LONG-LASTING IMMUNITY AGAINST CANCER
Sept. 23, 2019 | Sarah C.P. Williams | (Republished in Journal of Modern Healing) from original source- UCLA Newsroom
They’ve been called the “special forces” of the immune system: invariant natural killer T cells. Although there are relatively few of them in the body, they are more powerful than many other immune cells. In experiments with mice, UCLA researchers have shown they can harness the power of iNKT cells to attack tumor cells and treat cancer ... Scientists have hypothesized that iNKT cells could be a useful weapon against cancer because it has been shown that they are capable of targeting many types of cancer at once — a difference from most immune cells, which recognize and attack only one particular type of cancer cell at a time. (click for complete article at the UCLA NEWSROOM)- expanded release


INNATE IMMUNE CELLS MAY ACTUALLY REMEMBER THEIR TARGETS
May 10, 2019 | Emma Yasinski | The Scientist (link)

Human natural killer cells, previously considered not to participate in adaptive immunity, remember viral antigens after initial exposures, according to a new study. Scientists have long believed that humans and many other mammals have two types of immune systems: innate and adaptive. The former is driven by natural killer (NK) cells, which attack any cell it identifies as non-self, the latter by B and T cells that form long-term memories of particular antigens they meet so they are more prepared to fight that antigen in the future. The NK cells are thought to form the first barrier of defense against any incoming pathogen, poking holes in the cells to kill them. . (click for complete article at THE SCIENTIST)


GENE THERAPY EFFECTIVE FOR SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY
Apr 17, 2019 | Shawna Williams | The Scientist (link)

Researchers report they’ve found a way to restore immune function in infants with one form of “bubble boy disease.” Treating infants with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency with low-dose chemotherapy followed by gene therapy gave the children the ability to make the cells needed to mount a normal immune response, researchers report today (April 17) in the New England Journal of Medicine. The finding marks a milestone in the long effort to use gene therapy for the devastating condition, also known as bubble boy disease, which requires untreated patients to be isolated in order to protect them from life-threatening infections. Experts caution that longer follow-up is needed to determine whether the gene therapy–treated patients are truly cured. (click for complete article at THE SCIENTIST)


TUMOR ORGANOIDS HOLD PROMISE FOR PERSONALIZING CANCER THERAPY
Jul 15, 2019 | Jef Akst | The Scientist (link)

The three-dimensional cell cultures are still in the development phase, but researchers are excited about their use to predict patients’ responses to various treatment options. As researchers improve ways to quickly and cheaply sequence DNA, the concept of precision medicine is gaining a foothold in the medical community. When it comes to cancer, a disease that leaves its mark in a patient’s genome, sequencing tumor DNA to tailor treatment plans to individuals seems an obvious application of the technology. “The idea of precision medicine as in individualized treatment, I think that makes so much sense,” says Alice Soragni, a cancer biologist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine. “When you work with a few of these tumors, each and every one is a bit different.” (click for complete article at THE SCIENTIST)


 

FDA APPROVES CAR T THERAPY FOR LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA DEVELOPED AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
May 01, 2018 | from original source- PENN MEDICINE News
Nation’s first approved personalized cellular therapy now available for second indication!PHILADELPHIA – The FDA has expanded approval for a personalized cellular therapy developed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center... today’s approval includes treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) – the most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – as well as high grade B-cell lymphoma and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma. The approval was granted today to Novartis for the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy Kymriah® (tisagenlecleucel, formerly CTL019), making it the second indication for the nation’s first personalized cellular therapy for cancer... The FDA’s action is the latest accomplishment in the alliance between Penn and Novartis, which entered into a global collaboration in 2012 to further research, develop, and commercialize Kymriah and other CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of cancers. (click for complete article at the PENN MEDICINE NEWS)

HOW LONG DOES 'CHEMO BRAIN' LAST?
August 19, 2016 | Tim Newman | source: Medical News Today (link)

Cancer survivors have long complained of cognitive decline following chemotherapy. This effect has been studied in some depth, but, for the first time, researchers ask how long these deficits might last. As treatments for cancer improve, survival rates increase, as do the number of cancer survivors. This growing population of people who have come through cancer and lived to tell the tale often report cognitive deficits. (click for complete article at Medical News Today)

 


TACKLING THE LONG-TERM ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY
Jan 31, 2018 | source: ResearchFeatures (link)

Significant advances have been made in cancer treatment in the last decades. However, emerging research suggests that chemotherapy may come at a high price, causing chronic damage to healthy tissue and limiting treatment tolerability. Dr Roland Jurecic, Associate Professor of Immunology, Microbiology and Cell Biology at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, is embarking on a promising new trial that could bring new hope for cancer patients and survivors to reduce the harmful effects of chemotherapy on healthy organs. (click for complete article @ResearchFeatures)


WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY?
Oct 26, 2018 | Zawn Vilines | source: Medical News Today (link)

Chemotherapy can prolong a person's life, and potentially rid them of cancer. Side effects are unpredictable and depend on the type of chemo drug a person is using. Illness, easy bruising or bleeding, and hair loss are some of the most common side effects. Chemotherapy cannot tell normal cells apart from cancer cells and kills both, which is why side effects occur. Most people receiving chemotherapy will experience side effects.

Other common side effects include:
• nausea and vomiting
neuropathy
• trouble breathing
constipation
diarrhea
(click for complete article at Medical News Today)


THE END OF TOXIC CHEMO? BLOCKING VITAMIN B-2 MAY STOP CANCER
Jan 31, 2018 | Ana Sandoiu | source: Medical News Today (link)

New research published in the journal Aging finds a compound that stops cancer cells from spreading by starving them of vitamin B-2. The findings may revolutionize traditional chemotherapy. A team of British-based researchers set out to find a non-toxic therapeutic agent that targets the mitochondria of cancer cells. Mitochondria are energy-producing organelles found inside each cell. The compound recently found by the scientists can stop cancer stem-like cells from proliferating by interfering with their energy-creating process inside the mitochondria. (click for complete article at Medical News Today)


OVARIAN CANCER: IMMUNOTHERAPY MAY OVERCOME CHEMOTHERAPY RESISTANCE
May 23, 2016 | Catharine Paddock PhD | source: Medical News Today (link)

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed when it is at an advanced stage, so chemotherapy is a key part of treatment. However, the cancer eventually develops resistance to chemotherapy - a major reason for its low survival rate. Now, new research suggests it may be possible to overcome chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer by adding immunotherapy to the chemotherapy. In the journal Cell, researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor describe how they reversed chemotherapy resistance in mouse models of ovarian cancer by boosting the animals' immune T cells. (click for complete article at Medical News Today)

 


WHAT ARE IMMUNOLOGIC AGENTS?
Source: Drugs.com (link)

Immunologic agents are drugs that can modify the immune response, either by enhancing or suppressing the immune system. They are used to fight infections, prevent and treat certain diseases. Immunologic agents include drugs used for immunosuppression to prevent graft rejection. They can be used as cancer chemotherapy agents. Some immunologic agents can down-regulate the inflammatory process and can be used to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune conditions and so on. Types of Immunologic Agents include:

 

IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AGENTS

(click for complete details in www.drugs.com)
Medical Disclaimer



 

Current Blog Articles about Immunology

Fighting Cancer with Natural Killer Cells (Posted 10/18/18 by Dr. F. Collins)
Cancer immunotherapies, which enlist a patient’s own immune system to attack and shrink developing tumors, have come a long way in recent years, leading in some instances to dramatic cures of widely disseminated cancers. But, as this video highlights, new insights from immunology are still being revealed that may provide even greater therapeutic potential.

New Target for Cancer Immunotherapy: Exosomes (Posted 4/9/18 by Dr. F. Collins)
The new findings center on a type of immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors. They are monoclonal antibodies produced by industry that can boost the immune system’s ability to attack and treat cancer. One of those antibodies specifically targets a protein, called PD-1, on the surface of certain immune cells. When PD-1 binds a similarly named protein, called PD-L1, on the surface of another cell, the interaction prevents immune cells from attacking. Some tumors seem to have learned this and load up on PD-L1 to evade the immune system.
Next-Gen Cell Engineering to Fight Cancer (Posted 7/11/19 by Dr. F. Collins) Researchers continue to make progress with cancer immunotherapy, a type of treatment that harnesses the body’s own immune cells to attack cancer. But Kole Roybal wants to help move the field further ahead by engineering patients’ immune cells to detect an even broader range of cancers and then launch customized attacks against them. With an eye toward developing the next generation of cell-based immunotherapies, this synthetic biologist at University of California, San Francisco, has already innovatively hacked into how certain cells communicate with each other. Now, he and his research team are using a 2018 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award to build upon that progress.
Optimizing Radio-Immunotherapy for Cancer (Posted 4/5/18 by Dr. F. Collins)
Most people think of radiation therapy in its more traditional, high-dose form that irradiates tumor cells, causing breaks in their DNA and killing them. What Zachary Morris and others have learned over the past several years is that the surviving tumor cells don’t escape unscathed. Fragments of damaged DNA wind up in their cytoplasm and can “trick” them into behaving as if they have been infected with a DNA virus. These cells then activate an internal response that leads to them to display proteins at the cell surface that can alert immune cells to target or even kill the damaged cancer cell.
 

The blog articles posted in this section are those directly published by the NIH Director's BLog whose authors and post dates are indicated on each blog article. Visit Blogsite


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Founding Organizations

Since its official launch in Dec., 2001, the Biofoundation for Angiogenesis Research and Development (aka AngioFoundation - 501C3) was established to conduct various disciplines of clinical research to support the advancement of technologies, treatment protocols and diagnostic science. The AngioFoundation has since been recognized worldwide by official medical organizations and peer reviews for its work in various cancer diagnostic focal studies and class divisions. We continually maintain and update research work in these categories to support the advancement of these disciplines as part of The AngioFoundation's commitment to the scientific community. In addition, the AngioFoundation's public mission also pursues education and awareness efforts pertaining to cancer topics as they affect our community at large. http://angiofoundation.org/

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