New therapies for ovarian/peritoneal cancers on the horizon . . .

From "Mass High Tech Biz News"

Researchers at MIT are manufacturing tiny artificial viruses out of biodegradeable polymers and injecting them into mice with tumors. The goal is to come up with a treatment for late stage ovarian cancer. And it just might work.

“We’re very excited. We can cure mice. We want to treat people but there are a lot of steps until we get there,” said Daniel Anderson, the lead researcher on the project.

The research is part of the growing field of nanotherapy, a research area that has the potential to create an arsenal of new cancer drugs that attack only the sick cells, leaving the healthy cells alone. It’s a revolution that could some day put an end to the 6 to 8 hours-long chemotherapy infusions, the hair loss and the nausea that are routine for many who battle cancer today.
Ovarian cancer is an elusive therapeutic target. Early detection is rare because the symptoms, like fatigue and abdominal pain, are common to many different illnesses. When a patient is diagnosed, the most common course of treatment is surgery to remove the tumor, followed by chemo. But the tumor often comes back.

Anderson’s treatment involves injecting a nanoparticle, made of an artificial virus and therapeutic DNA, directly into the patient’s peritoneal cavity, which houses organs including the liver, spleen and ovaries. Viruses are good at weaseling their way into cells, so they are a good way to deliver DNA or other therapies in a targeted way, directly into certain cells. But the immune system eventually figures out how to battle real viruses, so Anderson makes his from biodegradeable polymers. The nanoparticle delivers a gene that is engineered to kill cancer cells and leave others alone. Anderson said, “The ultimate goal is for the treatment to replace chemotherapy, but in the early stages we will look toward advancing the treatment as part of a combination therapy.”

MIT’s Anderson and his team are looking to partner with another academic institution to do a Phase 1 clinical trial for their ovarian cancer treatment in humans over the next year to two years. His team has also been in contact with potential corporate partners. The team would then file an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is the first step in a long regulatory process.

Martha's Memorial Services

Celebration of Life
St Matthews Episcopal Church
Narragansett Avenue
Jamestown Rhode Island

Tuesday, August 11th 2009
2pm

Interment to follow at Cedar Cemetery in Jamestown
Reception at 64 Pemberton Avenue

* * *

Englewood Beach/Gulf View Grill
Englewood Florida
Saturday September 19th 2009
10am

A New Journey Begins

At 3:27AM Saturday August 8, 2009, angels appeared at Pemberton Avenue in Jamestown and whisked Martha off to tend to the beautiful gardens in Heaven. The current residents there now have more to celebrate as they welcome Martha to grow new roses and plumeria and butterfly bushes. Although those of us left on this planet are faced with the grief and sadness of her moving on, we shall delight in taking care of the flower gardens she has left behind, giving us hands-on experience so that we can assist her when it is our turn to join her once again.

Martha Coburn Clarke Kinnecom
September 4, 1958 - August 8, 2009
Living between the Heavenly sunshine and flowers......

mom is the energizer bunny.

she has a heart of gold and super strong lungs!

after 3-4 days of constant sleeping under magic-morphine, we sit and wait.

and wait.

and wait.

last night we all camped out in the living room listening to her breathing. it was (this entire experience is) surreal.

today, a flock of birds visited near the window -- a ginormous bluejay, several cardinals, a woodpecker, chickadees, and a beaaaautiful goldfinch. we haven't seen that many birds at one time since we've been in jamestown. so, naturally, we all thought they were coming to take mom!! maybe they were coming to chit chat and prepare her.

the hospice nurse said goodbye to us today because she doesn't think she'll be back tomorrow. pray for mom's safe journey and magnificent welcoming committee, whenever she decides to go.

love,

k & k

Mom is still resting comfortably here in Jamestown. Here are some photos from last week. Mom, Doug, Kim, Abby and I took a long walk down to the docks on Saturday and ran into a longtime friend of Mom's as well. It was a beautiful day to remember.




Mom with Maura

With Uncle Ricky and Mema

Last night while Kim and I were asleep upstairs, Mom somehow gathered the strength to climb out of her hospital bed to stand. Her leg muscles didn't support her for very long and she fell for the first time. Dad got her up and moved her over to the pull-out sofa with him. She didn't know where she was going or why she even stood up and just asked, "Are we still alive?"

Hello all,

The hospice nurse increased the amount of pain medication Mom is taking from ALOT to ALOT MORE. She is also now taking an anti-anxiety pill, and the combination has created a sleepy, dreaming, hallucinating, twitching, and relatively peaceful and painless Mom.

This morning she insisted on brushing her teeth, so Kim and I helped her in the bathroom while she nodded off and on. She has been determined to take care of herself and not "miss anything" for her entire journey with this cancer. Today was the first day she slept downstairs and the first day she didn't take a shower. Mom commented that the house felt like a cookoo farm. We dressed her in a Hawaiian print dress and she is now sleeping on the hospital bed overlooking the birdfeeder.

One of Doug's cousin's shared this passage with me and I'd like to pass it along:

2 Corinthians 4: 14-18
Therefore we do not lose heart, though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal- but the things which are not seen are eternal.

7/29 Update

No major changes in the past couple of days ... nothing significantly better or worse but Mom continues to decline. The Hospice nurse who was here Monday ordered some anti-anxiety med. so mom might be able to sleep a little more continually through the night (she wakes up about every hour) and to take the edge off during the day. This morning mom said she only woke up three times last night, slept considerably better and woke up at 7 a.m. instead of the typical 4:30 or 5 a.m.

Yesterday morning she was particularly weak and loopy. She'd fall asleep in the middle of saying something. She doesn't want help getting upstairs (about 15 stairs?) or in the bathroom yet. She's pretty stubborn (I can't blame her) and is desperately trying to hold on to taking care of herself and feeling some sense of normalcy. Yesterday the Hospice social worker came over to talk with Mom and Dad and another Hospice person delivered a hospital bed. Mom wanted the bed next to the windows so she can look out and see the birds/bird feeder and feel the fresh air.

Katie and I went back to Boston for only a couple of hours yesterday to pick up some clothes etc. and stopped by Katie's work so she could sign a leave form.

We had a lovely visit over the weekend with Katie's in-laws Warren and Jean from the Chicago area. They were able to spend some time with the family and also discover where our family is from.

Sunday Nana arrived and is staying in a basement apartment at a friend of the family. Katie and I took her to visit Papa's grave at the Veterans Cemetery yesterday and then to buy a new purse. I am so relieved that she's here.

Over the weekend we also had several special food deliveries from all sorts of friends. Some of Katie's friends from Boston brought several pans of homemade lasagna rolls (the new wave of lasagna!), mac & cheese, cupcakes, salad, loaves of bread, gallons of beverages, and best of all, disposable plates and utensils! Other family friends brought homemade soup and casseroles. Their generosity and thoughtfulness was so great. Funny to think that going to the grocery store and meal planning could ever be challenging... but it is such a relief to open the fridge or freezer and not have to think. (It is sort of full now though.)

This evening mom's uncle Ricky from California arrives and also her college roommate Maura from Maryland. Tomorrow a long-time family friend, Margaret, who lives in California arrives. A week from Friday Randy arrives from N.C., and Uncle David and Aunt Fairlie from Utah. Others are contemplating visits. Lots of people love mom (us too) and being very supportive!

Mom continues to receive cards and flowers which brighten up her days. She really loves getting cards and hearing from people. If anyone wants to send her a note the address here in Jamestown is:

64 Pemberton Ave.
Jamestown, RI 02835

Please pass along the address to anyone else who may want it!

We made it to Beavertail

7/25/09 We made a short trip to Beavertail to show off this spectacular place to Warren & Jean Young who flew in to visit for the weekend.

July update

This is the most difficult blog post as of yet. Kim, Mom and I have tried coming up with a variety of ways to declare the unfortunate, the obvious, the inevitable.

Mom's body wants something very different than her mind.

The tumors are relentless and paying no attention to the Doxil chemotherapy that Mom has been getting since June. At this point her entire medical team (both in Venice and in RI) agrees that further treatment would be unsuccessful based on the last CT scan results which showed innumerable lesions on the liver, some in the lower pelvis and larger masses compressing the left ureter, leading to swelling of the kidney.

Mom came up to Rhode Island for a summer visit and it no longer appears as though she'll travel back to Florida.

We have all met with several Hospice workers including a nurse, social worker, chaplain and also the minister from St Matthew's Episcopal Church (where Mom went as a child). Mom & Dad are designing their plot at their final resting place at Cedar Cemetary in Jamestown where they will join many other relatives.

Cancer is taking up a lot of Mom's energy right now, and although she would love to talk and visit with all of her friends and family, it is challenging. If you are too far away to come visit and would like to schedule a phone chat with Mom, please email one of us to set it up.

Mom still looks forward to the mail delivery every day and appreciates each and every note she receives.

Their address here is:

64 Pemberton Avenue Jamestown RI 02835

Thank you all for your continued support through this most difficult and challenging time.

Update

This evening, Mom is going to South County Hospital for bloodwork, a CT scan of the abdomen and a Chest X-ray. Next week she finally gets a FULL BODY scan of the bone. As of today, the oncologist increased her pain medication and tomorrow a visiting Hospice nurse is coming to discuss their programs. They will wait for the test results before deciding on continuing Mom's chemo (scheduled for the end of the month).

Doxil #2

Mom had chemo on Wednesday at South County Hospital in Wakefield, RI. Her nurse Leah is amazing and conducted an extremely thorough interview regarding Mom's ADL's (activities of daily living) and sat down with a Pain Management Specialist to come up with a better plan for Mom. It was SO IMPRESSIVE! Let's hope that the adjustments are productive.

So many friends have stopped by! Here are some photos from the last 7 days.. .enjoy!


Mom and Bobby- still matching hairdo's!
Bobby asked Mom when the last time she had a part was. She responded, "3rd or 4th grade!"

We all got chowdah and clamcakes from Chopmist Charlies and went up to Beavertail!
What a treat.

Mom also had visits from Don & Epsey, Louise & Eddie, Kathy B, cousin Susanne... who took Mom for a ride in her Miata! It has been a full week, and so amazing to see the love and support from all our friends and family. Thank you all so much for continuing to believe in Mom as she fights this battle, running uphill.

02835

Mom & Dad safely arrived from Florida on Saturday, July 4th! I picked them up in Worcester and we were settled in Jtwn by 5pm. It wasn't long before family and friends came over by the handful to say hi! Over the weekend we spent time with Kelly & Mark, Abby, Julie, Carolyn, Cheri, Monique, Chris, Bobby, and Mary M. It was so wonderful to see everyone!

Mom has an appointment with her new summer oncologist tomorrow and another round of Doxil chemo on Wednesday. Her CA-125 is rising and pain near/on her liver is escalating. Mom also has aches from her neck to her toes. Let's all hope this chemo stops her cells from dividing...PRONTO!

Happy July 1.... photos and observations

Sunday @ Gulf View Grill
@ Gulf View Grill

Mom got in the pool on Saturday (and then took a nap)

Mom checking out a comfy rocker at Mr. T's on Friday

Mom said this is her best picture since cancer

Family friends came to the hospital Thursday to cheer mom on

Peggy @ Venice Regional getting mom ready for some blood

I really can't emphasize how many curve balls and ups and downs cancer throws. Every day is different, and there are highs and lows throughout every day. The new chemo (Doxil) mom is on now wears her out, but it's very evident that she's not letting it get her down completely. Between the chemo and the regular shot mom's getting, her appetite is completely bizarre, energy level pretty low, and lot of random nausea, but the anti-nausea medicine does help out.

I think if I had to rate my overall observations from diagnosis - now, I would rate the two weeks I was here at Christmas as the lowest point I saw. When I was here in February mom was having a tough time, but seemed to be doing better than she was in December. During my April visit, mom was at her best. I think now she's somewhere in between. When Katie was here a few weeks ago mom was having a heck of a time to say the least and I think she's come a long, long way in just a few weeks. (Plus the blood transfusion on Thursday really helped out a lot.) Mom's spirit is amazing and she's working hard at trying to feel good, staying positive as much as possible and making daily goals (despite taking all her pills, getting her shots, vomiting, and spending a lot of time on the couch).

Some big things mom accomplished: a few walks around the block, getting in the pool once, a short and early trip to the Gulf View Grill (mom and dad's favorite local spot) and a trip to Mr. T's to pick out flowers/plants for the oasis.

Her newest goal is to get on an airplane on Saturday, July 4 to Rhode Island to visit family and friends, and escape the crazy-hot Florida weather that really restricts what she can do. Her next chemo is scheduled for July 8 in Rhode Island.

For now, we all continue with taking everything one day at a time.

Stuff

We are getting ready this morning to go to Venice Regional Medical Center for most of the day. Mom needs to get a shot and a blood transfusion. Hopefully the transfusion will give her some more energy. Her energy level has been very low for a few days, but she's still been going out into the gardens when she can. (She can't jip the birds and squirrels on birdseed!)

Forever family friends Becky, Phelps and ET will be driving down from the Bradenton area to come hang out at the hospital with us for a while. In the meantime dad will be at the dentist embarking on a two-year process to "fix" some issues in his mouth.

Then... later today Nancy will come over for the dandy shot.

Quick recap of yesterday... Went to doctor's office for blood counts, cleaning of port and chat with Dr. Lifton. Everyone at the office is so pleasant and efficient. No wonder mom and dad feel so pleased and relieved with the care they're getting. I am very satisfied!!

More later.