Jennifer Matthews: Julie Lee's three new puppies are sure to bring a smile to her face.
Julie Lee: They're such a joy. They're so fun!.
Jennifer Matthews: She's needed the good times after being diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.
Julie Lee: My first thought was, Oh my God, I have ovarian cancer. That's like one of the worst cancers you can possibly have.
Jennifer Matthews: After chemotherapy and radiation, Julie went into remission. Good news, but Dr. Robert Holloway says 75% of patients in remission have their cancer return.
Robert Holloway: Some of the most intense areas of research right now are to try and figure out how to take women who are in remission and keep them there.
Jennifer Matthews: Now, researchers are studying a new therapy that may do just that. Catumaxomab or CAT for short is infused right into the abdomen through a port. It links immune cells to cancer cells. The body then creates an immune response to seek out and destroy the cancer cells.
Robert Holloway: I can say in the patients that I treated, we have seen the immune response.
Jennifer Matthews: Patients are given four injections over a month. Doctors have treated about 36 patients in a clinical trial. It's still early, but so far, all the women have remained in remission. Julie has the injections and has been in remission for nine months.
Julie Lee: I hope that this clinical trial prevents me from ever having a relapse again, and I'll stay in remission forever.
Jennifer Matthews: She says she wants to enjoy each and every moment with her little pups. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services