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Did you know that immunotherapy for malignancy dates back to 1891?
Immunotherapy works by stimulating your immune system to attack cancer cells.
After losing a patient to sarcoma, Dr Coley found a similar pt who survived following severe infection.
#WorldCancerDay
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Immunotherapy works by stimulating your immune system to attack cancer cells.
After losing a patient to sarcoma, Dr Coley found a similar pt who survived following severe infection.
#WorldCancerDay
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Further evidence to support his theory included anecdotal reports & the fact that patients w/ syphilis rarely developed malignant tumors.
In 1891 he injected his 1st pt w/ streptococcal organisms which resulted in tumor shrinkage!
His next 2 pts died of infection
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In 1891 he injected his 1st pt w/ streptococcal organisms which resulted in tumor shrinkage!
His next 2 pts died of infection
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Due to those deaths he began injecting heat killed strep combined w/ serratia marcescens.
These concoctions were known as Coleys Toxin.
Over the course of his career he treated over 1000 patients this way.
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These concoctions were known as Coleys Toxin.
Over the course of his career he treated over 1000 patients this way.
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Beginning in 1899 Parke Davis & Co was making his toxins so they were available to other physicians.
Administration was inconsistent w/ 13 different toxin varieties & ranged from IV to IM to intratumor.
His followup was also poorly documented.
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Administration was inconsistent w/ 13 different toxin varieties & ranged from IV to IM to intratumor.
His followup was also poorly documented.
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Despite serious flaws, Dr Coley was the 1st physician to systematically use immunotherapy for cancer treatment.
Thankfully it has come a long way & is safer & more effective than Coleys toxin.
It is now commonly used to successfully treat many types of cancer.
5/fin
Thankfully it has come a long way & is safer & more effective than Coleys toxin.
It is now commonly used to successfully treat many types of cancer.
5/fin
