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"A vaccine treatment undergoing testing could halt and shrink aggressive cancers"

Daily Telegraph

Source: Daily Telegraph

Published: 12 Jul 2010

Category: Pharmaceutical

Rating: (2½ stars)

Keywords: vaccine, aggressive, cancer, UK, research, breast, bowel, cervical

what they said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

AN injection to help kill off the most deadly cancers, including breast, bowel and cervical tumours, has been created by scientists.

The original article can be found at: http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/health/a-vaccine-treatment-undergoing-testing-could-halt-and-shrink-agressive-cancers/story-e6frer7f-1225890905130

how did it rate? (more information)

Criteria Rating
Total Score 4 of 9
Novelty of Treatment Satisfactory (?)
Availability of Treatment Satisfactory (?)
Treatment Options Not Satisfactory (?)
Disease Mongering Satisfactory (?)
Evidence Not Satisfactory (?)
Quantification of Benefits of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Harms of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Costs of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Sources of Information Satisfactory (?)
Relies on Press Release Not Applicable

what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

The limitations implied by the word 'could' are ignored by both the journalist and the researcher of this treatment. The researcher even suggests thousands of lives could be saved by the treatment. But no evidence is provided for this, nor even any evidence to support the claim that the treatment 'shrinks tumours and stops them metastising' in humans, apparently by 'revving up the immune system'. The 'extremely good results', however, were obtained in animals, not humans. Studies in people with bladder cancer are just beginning. The Cancer Council comment is appropriately cautious.

The journalist and the researcher could read the recent FDA expert panel advice that bevacizumab (Avastin) approval for use in breast cancer be removed - it was approved on evidence it shrank tumours and slowed progression - in practice it did not live up to these promises, and most importantly, did not extend life. It also had significant toxicity.

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