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Spontaneous Remission in Myeloma?
Does spontaneous remission in myeloma ever happen? Any documented cases? What is considered to be “spontaneous remission?”
The video linked below demonstrates the problems that arise when talking about spontaneous remission. Conventional, FDA, board-certified oncology considers any treatment outside of what is FDA-approved that demonstrated efficacy, as causing spontaneous remission.
There was quite a stir in the world of MM when, in 2014, the Mayo Clinic treated a MM patient with a virus that caused the patient’s MM to disappear. As far as know, that patient is still in remission.
After being told I was end-stage, I underwent antineoplaston therapy and reached complete remission in about 17 months.
Are both examples documented spontaneous remission in myeloma?
What Is Spontaneous Remission In Cancer?
I am a long-term MM survivor. I research and blog about MM. Let me know if you are aware of any documented cases of spontaneous remission in myeloma. Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
When Tumors Vanish: The Mystery of Spontaneous Regression
Historical Observations
In 1891, William B. Coley, a surgeon, reported the disappearance of recurrent spindle cell sarcoma in a patient after the patient developed erysipelas, a severe bacterial skin infection, and the wound healed after treatment.
Observing immune-related tumor regression, Coley developed bacterial preparations, later called Coley toxins, to intentionally induce high fever in patients with cancer.
The regimen produced measurable tumor responses in sarcomas but was less effective for carcinomas and carried notable safety risks. By the mid-20th century, radiation therapy largely replaced this approach.
However, Coley was the first to use immunotherapeutic techniques to treat cancer. He found that infections could activate the immune system of the patient to attack the tumor cells.
In 1918, G. L. Rohdenburg, MD, identified histologically confirmed cases of spontaneous cancer regression. In some patients, high fever (40-40.5 °C) occurred 3-5 days before regression, suggesting a potential link between immune activation and tumor disappearance.
Reports suggest that the use of antipyretics for fever may reduce their potential role in triggering tumor regression.
Other regressions followed repeated infections or partial tumor removal. Rohdenburg also believed that external heat applications could help, similar to the hyperthermia used in modern cancer treatments.
Forty years later, Tilden C. Everson, MD, and Warren H. Cole, MD, from the Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, defined spontaneous remission or regression as the partial or complete disappearance of malignant tumors without adequate conventional treatment.
Immune Activation and Tumor Regression
Generally, the immune system tolerates tumors despite recognizing them as foreign. According to the danger model, tumors rarely emit alarm signals unless they are damaged by infection or toxins. Once injured, tumor cells activate local antigen-presenting cells, triggering an immune response in the body.
Coley’s experience supports this mechanism: His regimen involved administering the “toxin” daily or every other day until the tumor disappeared, followed by weekly doses for several months to prevent recurrence. If viable tumor cells remain, the immune response may fail, allowing the tumor to regrow unnoticed.
Favored Tumors
Both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) exhibit spontaneous remission; however, relapse is common in both. In a series of 50 AML and four ALL cases, 76% of remissions were associated with bacterial infection and 45% with blood transfusion. Relapses were frequent, with a median remission duration of approximately 5 months.
Viral infections can destroy malignant cells and trigger systemic immune responses. In 1904, George Dock, MD, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, reported spontaneous remission of undifferentiated acute leukemia after influenza.
Attempts to treat malignancies with wild-type viruses have been unreliable, resulting in partial and short-lived remission.
Currently, the genetically modified herpesvirus talimogene laherparepvec is approved in the United States for intratumoral injection in patients with advanced unresectable melanoma.
Interestingly, smallpox vaccination has been associated with spontaneous remission of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussisvaccination has been associated with remission of metastatic melanoma…
Intratumoral, intravenous, and preoperative adjuvant applications of oncolytic viruses are actively being researched. Understanding the underlying mechanisms or combinations of mechanisms responsible for spontaneous tumor regression can guide the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Whatever happened to measles vaccine therapy? A status report
“Almost two years ago, I wrote about encouraging new research on virus or “viro” therapy for myeloma. Stacy Erholtz, a 50-year-old myeloma patient at the Mayo Clinic, had a dramatic response when treated with a massive dose of engineered measles virus—a dose of measles virus sufficient to vaccinate 10 million people. Stacy continues to do very well at the present time…”
spontaneous remission in myeloma spontaneous remission in myeloma spontaneous remission in myeloma