Question for you and history of RIT
As Mort has mentioned, many readers have asked specific questions that relate to their own medical conditions. Because both of us understand how important it is to find answers, I think I can speak for Mort when I say that both of us wish we could help. But specific questions are best answered by your own doctors.
As we continue to write, I'm wondering, though, if there are specific subjects you would like us to write about, and so I thought I would take this opportunity to ask each of you to send comments and give us some general topics you'd like to know more about.
On a different note, someone asked about the how long radioimmunotherapy has been around. I talk about this in my book (page 156), but will summarize here:
Radioimmunotherapy grew from an idea of treating cancer with antibodies, a theory that dates back to 1908 when German bacteriologist Paul Erlich won a Nobel Prize for his studies of the immune system. Erlich believed that it might be possible to attach substances to antibodies which would then kill tumors without harming normal cells. However, scientists were unable to perfect Erlich's theory because they could not produce pure lines of antibodies.
It wasn't until 1972 that German immunologists discovered how to produce pure lines of antibodies, called monoclonal antibodies. At first, researchers believed that these antibodies might be able to kill cancerous cells without attaching substances to them. But the antibodies needed a target on tumor cells which they could recognize and to which they could attach, and no one could find either. By the mid eighties, most scientists had given up for lack of funding and progress.
A small handful of scientists continued doggedly and their persistence paid off. In the early 90's, the first clinical trials began and the results were astounding, but it wasn't until 2002 that radioimmunotherapy was approved by the FDA.
So from Paul Erlich in 1908 to FDA approval in 2002, it took 94 years!!!!! Personally, I am thankful to the countless scientists who never gave up.
Happy Fourth of July to all!
Betsy