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CHICAGO - A cancer vaccine more than doubled the survival time of people with the most common and deadly type of brain tumour, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

The vaccine, made by Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc and licensed by drug giant Pfizer Inc., enlists the help of the immune system to attack the tumour.

Researchers treated 23 patients with a type of brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme. They have lived, on average, 33 months, said Dr. John Sampson of Duke University, who presented the study at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. "That is almost unheard of," Dr. Sampson said in an interview....

The original article can be found at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080602.wcancvac0602/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080602.wcancvac0602

The original article can found in the Media Doctor archives.

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

This study of a cancer vaccine for a type of brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme was conducted in 23 patients. Survival is described as 33 months vs. 14 months (vaccine vs. placebo) except given that it's such a small trial we are not sure if those results are statistically significant. Furthermore there is no discussion of the potential harms of the treatment, the availability of the treatment, its cost or availability or if the quoted researchers have any financial conflicts of interest. These types of stories, based on very preliminary research need to be supplied with the appropriate caveats so patients with this condition do not develop unrealistic expectations of the treatment's potential effect.

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