Imagine a bladder cancer treatment that targets only cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.
This dream has now become reality for patients like Gerald Hecox, thanks to a promising new drug delivery system developed by researchers at UC Davis.
The treatment uses something called PLZ4-coated paclitaxel-loaded micelles, or PPM. It’s designed to deliver chemotherapy directly to bladder cancer cells without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.
So far, the results have been remarkable. In an early clinical trial, three out of four patients, including Hecox, went into complete remission after just the first dose.
Gerald Hecox had been fighting bladder cancer for years. His cancer kept coming back even after three rounds of treatment. Doctors told him he might need to have his bladder removed, a major surgery called a cystectomy.
But Hecox wasn’t ready to give up. He joined the PPM clinical trial at UC Davis, and just six weeks later, his cancer was gone. Now at 74, he’s back to golfing, spending time with his three corgis, and planning a camping trip with his wife, Judy.
Bladder cancer is often treated by removing visible tumors and using a type of immunotherapy called BCG, delivered through a catheter into the bladder.
While BCG can work well, it often affects the entire bladder lining, causing side effects like flu-like symptoms and painful urination. Worse, about 75% of these cancers come back, leaving surgery as the only option.
Cystectomy is a major surgery that removes the bladder. It often requires patients to wear an external bag for urine or undergo reconstructive surgery using part of their intestine. The recovery is long, and it can reduce quality of life.
That’s why the new PPM therapy is so exciting. Instead of using general treatments, PPM uses nanoparticles—tiny spheres made of lipids and polymers—that carry the cancer drug paclitaxel. These micelles are coated with a molecule called PLZ4, which attaches to cancer cells. Once inside, the drug is released directly into the cancer cell, stopping its growth.
Dr. Mamta Parikh, the lead researcher at UC Davis, explained that because PPM targets only cancer cells, patients don’t suffer from the painful side effects common with regular treatments. In Hecox’s case, the treatment was delivered once a week for six weeks through a catheter. He experienced no side effects, and follow-up scans showed no signs of cancer.
This innovative approach not only helps patients avoid major surgery, but it also gives them hope after other treatments have failed. UC Davis and the VA Boston Healthcare System are now enrolling more patients to continue testing the safety and effectiveness of PPM.
Hecox and his wife are grateful. They felt like other doctors had given up on them. Now, thanks to this new treatment, he’s living life to the fullest again.
“This treatment could be life-changing,” said Dr. Parikh. “It’s a great option for people with recurring bladder cancer who want to avoid losing their bladder. And it might just be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.”
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The study is published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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