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Dr. Saman Maleki – London Dr. Saman Maleki, a scientist at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute in London, Ont., holds up a “poop pill.” (Source: LHSC) <\/p>\nA new clinical trial in London looks to improve immunotherapy for lung cancer patients through \u2018poop pills.\u2019 CTV\u2019s Lauren Stallone explains. <\/p>\n
LHSC announced Wednesday the largest ever Canadian clinical trial that will test \u2018poop pills\u2019 to improve immunotherapy for lung cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trial titled LUNA-2 Trial basically looks at investigating the role of FMT which is fecal transplantation in patients with advanced lung cancer,\u201d explained Dr. Jacques Raphael, a scientist with the London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI).<\/p>\n
Researchers said for nearly half of people diagnosed with lung cancer, immunotherapy can slow the disease but not stop it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is actually the cancer with the most diagnosis in the world and it\u2019s also the biggest killer in the world as well, so it is an underserved population,\u201d said Dr. Saman Maleki, a scientist at LHSCRI. \u201cWe wanted to try and see if we could improve the conditions for patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
The trial, done in partnership with St Joseph\u2019s Health Care and Lawson Health Research Institute, aims to do just that, through a $4 million joint investment from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Weston Family Foundation.<\/p>\n
Dr. Saman Maleki – London Dr. Saman Maleki, a scientist at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute in London, Ont., holds up a “poop pill.” (Source: LHSC) <\/p>\n
\u201cPatients will still get their standard treatment which is a combination of chemo and immune therapy, and the patients will get the FMT intervention prior to starting their standard treatment,\u201d said Raphael.<\/p>\n
FMT delivered through capsules or \u2018poop pills\u2019, contains carefully screened gut microbes from healthy donors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe microbiome is often an ignored organ in the human body but one that\u2019s very important,\u201d said Maleki. \u201cIf you change somebody\u2019s microbiome, giving them a healthy microbiome, now the immune system can function better.\u201d<\/p>\n
If successful, the trial would provide new treatment options for cancer patients helping them live longer and with fewer side effects.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have a way to make that immune response better, in this case through change of microbiome, you effectively might be able to go and help patients with other types of cancer,\u201d said Maleki.<\/p>\n
The trial, which will enroll 160 people, is set to begin by the end of the year, rolling out at multiple sites across the country with London at the forefront. <\/p>\n
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