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Trial doing RC using tissue from your cells!!!
In bladder cancer most of the studies I run across are of situations that are looking at the standard treatment it is rare that you run across something totally different. While I was having my staples removed from my recent surgery I have to admit that I hardly noticed I was so interested in the following information. Dr. Gary Steinberg of the University of Chicago was standing in the room telling me of this new clinical trial they will be doing.
Tengion is a company that is working with growing tissue for different uses from peoples own cells. They have been working on growing Neo Bladders and have completed phase 2 trials for the use of in children who have conditions such as spinal bifida in need of replacement and adults who have spinal cord injuries. This offers the advantages of not having to use intestinal tissues.
They are now in the process of recruiting for a phase 1 clinical trial for people that are in need of Radical Cystectomy with bladder cancer. This trial will offer an Incontinent Urinary Diversion Using an Autologous Neo-Urinary Conduit. To my understanding this will be an Elliot Conduit done using tissue grown from your own cells so that intestinal tissue will not have to be harvested. Here are the links so you can read a bit more about it on your own.
I am not posting this to push any clinical trial but rather to inform. I for one am going to watch this very closely as we all know it would be a red letter day if this works as not having the intestines involved in the Radical Cystectomy surgery is a very exciting thought.
http://www.tengion.com/pipeline/bladders.cfm
http://www.tengion.com/trials/index.cfm
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01087697?term=Tengion&rank=3
Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society