Dana-Farber to test blood cancer drug in COVID-19 patients
News Release/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are participating as lead investigators in a clinical test of a blood cancer drug in patients infected with the COVID-19 virus. The test follows several case reports indicating that the drug, ibrutinib, may protect against lung damage and respiratory distress caused by the virus.
The goal of the randomized trial is to determine if treatment with ibrutinib, compared with standard supportive care, can reduce patients’ need for supplemental oxygen – including mechanical ventilation – shorten hospital stays, and improve survival.
“This could be an important development if you consider that most admissions to hospitals for COVID-19 are because of breathing problems, and many of these patients require mechanical ventilation,” said Steven Treon, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the trial, and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Bing Center for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM) at Dana-Farber.
Ibrutinib is an oral drug used to treat several B-cell malignancies and chronic graft-versus-host disease. Treon and colleagues recently published in Blood a report on six Waldenström’s patients who had been taking ibrutinib for several years and who had recently contracted COVID-19. All the patients experienced cough and fever. Five of the patients, who were taking ….read more:
Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator.
She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues.
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