Fight Pink » On Judah Folkman and Avastin by Gina Maisano

On Judah Folkman and Avastin by Gina Maisano

Submitted by Stacy on Sunday, 25 July 2010One Comment

The very miracle that gives us life can also take it away. This is what Dr. Judah Folkman discovered when he realized the mechanism of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis: the creation of a new blood supply from cells within the body. The most beautiful of angiogenesis is a fetus. The most deadly is found in cancer.

Two polar opposites, that which gives life and that which takes it away, are both developed through angiogenesis.

When Dr. Folkman made his discovery, over two decades ago, the world thought the key to unlocking the door that stops cancer had been found. However, it was not so easy. Creating an anti-angiogenesis drug proved difficult if not impossible. Until Avastin (Bevacizumab) hit the oncology world. It showed in clinical trials that it stops cancer cells from creating their own blood supply, thus stopping cancer from growing.

It was paired with other chemotherapies and there were some very good outcomes along with some deadly side effects, for some. However, it did work on women who had advanced breast cancer. It also showed promise in the treatment of early stage disease. I personally know women who benefited from this drug. It represented the future of cancer care. Until now.

This week, the FDA is considering pulling it from the market because studies show “not enough benefit compared to the risk when paired with current chemotherapies.” Women who are currently benefiting from this drug will lose their insurance coverage for Avastin if the FDA succeeds in pulling this drug.

Avastin is a powerful weapon in the arsenal against breast cancer. If the FDA does not feel it works well with current, well established chemotherapies, they should have a warning for practitioners and patients alike. But they must not close the door for its use for future drugs that it may work extremely well with. One example is the new hope that is being found in Parp Inhibitors for triple negative disease. There has not been sufficient testing of Parp i, nor has there been combination trials of Avastin with these future drugs to completely rule out this hope for women who are desperate for a therapy that will extend their lives.

Pull Avastin from the market? The FDA should ask the women whose metastatic disease is now stable because of it before they close yet another door on survival. If Dr. Folkman were still alive today, he would most likely agree.

avastin July 25, 2010–New York–The very miracle that gives us life can also take it away. This is what Dr. Judah Folkman discovered when he realized the mechanism of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis: the creation of a new blood supply from cells within the body. The most beautiful of angiogenesis is a fetus. The most deadly is found in cancer.

Two polar opposites, that which gives life and that which takes it away, are both developed through angiogenesis.

When Dr. Folkman made his discovery, over two decades ago, the world thought the key to unlocking the door that stops cancer had been found. However, it was not so easy. Creating an anti-angiogenesis drug proved difficult if not impossible. Until Avastin (Bevacizumab) hit the oncology world. It showed in clinical trials that it stops cancer cells from creating their own blood supply, thus stopping cancer from growing.

It was paired with other chemotherapies and there were some very good outcomes along with some deadly side effects, for some. However, it did work on women who had advanced breast cancer. It also showed promise in the treatment of early stage disease. I personally know women who benefited from this drug. It represented the future of cancer care. Until now.

This week, the FDA is considering pulling it from the market because studies show “not enough benefit compared to the risk when paired with current chemotherapies.” Women who are currently benefiting from this drug will lose their insurance coverage for Avastin if the FDA succeeds in pulling this drug.

Avastin is a powerful weapon in the arsenal against breast cancer. If the FDA does not feel it works well with current, well established chemotherapies, they should have a warning for practitioners and patients alike. But they must not close the door for its use for future drugs that it may work extremely well with. One example is the new hope that is being found in Parp Inhibitors for triple negative disease. There has not been sufficient testing of Parp i, nor has there been combination trials of Avastin with these future drugs to completely rule out this hope for women who are desperate for a therapy that will extend their lives.

Pull Avastin from the market? The FDA should ask the women whose metastatic disease is now stable because of it before they close yet another door on survival. If Dr. Folkman were still alive today, he would most likely agree.

BY Gina Maisano

Gina Gina Maisano

Author of ‘Intimacy After Breast Cancer’

Author Gina Maisano’s book “Intimacy After Breast Cancer is a no holds barred, straight to the point guide for all of us women who have heard the words, “You have Breast Cancer.” It guides you back to your ‘before cancer’ you, helping you to reclaim your spirit, your sexuality and your relationship with yourself, and those around you.”