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Biomedical subjects

Michael Bergen

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Bergen.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficacy and safety of HLA-B7/beta-2 microglobulin plasmid DNA/lipid complex (Allovectin-7) in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B7/beta-2 microglobulin plasmid DNA/lipid complex, otherwise known as Allovectin-7 (Vical, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), has been developed as a non-viral gene delivery product. After multiple laboratory and human trials, it appears that the concept of gene transfer has established itself as a clinical reality. While the manifestations of the gene transfer have not been as dramatic as one might have hoped, HLA-B7/beta-2 microglobulin plasmid DNA/lipid complex appears to be a promising agent with an extremely safe toxicity profile. Ongoing trials are further investigating potential clinical uses of Allovectin-7.

Animals↗

Prostate cancer on the internet: impact on patients and how technology helps physicians and researchers.

The Internet is a repository of information unparalleled in history. The abundance of published material about prostate cancer has never been greater. Couple this with burgeoning pharmaceutical public-relations budgets and the result is a bewildering maze of hundreds of thousands of prostate cancer-oriented Internet pages. Our purposes are to help practitioners understand the profound handicap that patients are faced with when they attempt to search the Internet for information about their newly diagnosed disease and to succinctly evaluate the presence or absence of key aspects of prostate cancer on some of the most easily accessible sites. Part two of this paper will then discuss 4 of the most valuable Web sites for the prostate cancer specialist. Surfing the World Wide Web can be frustrating and time-consuming, but it can also be rewarding and informative.

Humans↗

Angiogenesis inhibitors in clinical development for lung cancer.

The use of tumor angiogenesis as a therapeutic target is based on extensive literature showing the dependence of tumors on the process of angiogenesis for growth, invasion, and metastasis. Seminal work performed by Folkman three decades ago determined that tumors beyond the size of approximately 2 mm require angiogenesis for subsequent growth and development. This basic hypothesis stimulated research in the field of angiogenesis and has resulted in the identification of factors that both enhance and inhibit this "angiogenic switch." The intent of this article is to present data on several angiogenesis inhibitors that are currently undergoing clinical evaluation in cancer patients. These agents may be particularly useful in the treatment of lung cancer, both as adjunctive therapy in early-stage or locally advanced disease, as well as in combination strategies with platinum-based therapy in metastatic disease. Although angiogenesis inhibitors have been in clinical trials for the past decade, there has been a shift in recent years towards the development of more mechanism-based and receptor-targeted agents. Interestingly, no antiangiogenic agent has been approved as such for use in cancer, perhaps because of the challenges involved in the clinical development of these novel agents. These include the potential requirement for long-term administration, difficulties in deriving biologically efficacious doses in early clinical trials, and the inability to use tumor regression as a primary endpoint in phase II trials.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗