Neoprobe: A Persuasive Biotech Speculative Investment

The biotechnology industry is one of intense volatility, endless speculation, and explosive gains and major losses. That being said, I believe Neoprobe ( NEOP ) has a very realistic chance at producing dramatic positive returns over the short and long-term horizons.

Neoprobe has recently been the target of some vigorous skepticism, and some great questions have been raised as a result. The most nagging question as of late has been the validity of Neoprobe's drug trials for its stage three oncological drug, Lymphoseek.

If approved, Lymphoseek will be used to determine whether or not cancer has spread. Lymphoseek will be injected in an area that is near the known cancerous tumor, and will proceed to what is called the lymphatic basin . These basins are a group of lymph nodes that receives and filters lymph that flows from a certain area of the body. Special dyes may be used to stain and identify the lymphatic basin in the tissues around a tumor, so that lymph nodes that may contain cancer can be removed and checked by a pathologist. When cancer spreads, it generally turns up in the drainage system of the lymphatic basin.

Because of this, Lymphoseek goes in to and through this lymphatic basin and attaches itself to the closest lymph node, and this node becomes the Sentinel lymph node (SLN). Next, the SLN is tracked by use of a Gamma Probe and is then removed by the surgeon. The node is then biopsied to determine whether or not cancer has in fact spread, and an appropriate course of action is then determined. This procedure, called Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB), is exceptionally efficient as only one lymph node (as opposed to potentially eight to thirty-two more nodes) needs to be extracted, thus saving time, money, and sparing the patient long-term pain.

Now, on to where the main arguments have their roots. The present-day SLNB procedure is performed using not only Blue-dye (VBD), but a filtered Technetium Sulphur Colloid. To date, all of Neoprobe's clinical trials have been compared not to the current combination of the two drugs, but only to either solely VBD (Phase 3), or just sulphur colloid (Phase 1). Some have pegged Neoprobe's decision not to use the combination of the radioactive colloid plus the VBD as a fatal error. But this argument instantaneously loses all credibility the second the word "decision" is said. Neoprobe did not really have much of a decision at all as to what their control would be. Dr.

Chicken pox and raised lymph nodes in head/neck

My son has had chicken pox and has recovered well (10 days since spots appeared), they are clearing up nicely. But I've found 3 pea sized lumps on the back of his head, above the hairline. They are mobile and don't seem to hurt him. Gp says they could be lymph nodes from the chicken pox but I'm worrying about all sorts of things. Saw a paed yesterday on referral from gp who also say 'may' be from the chicken pox. I have pushed for an ultrasound but have to wait 2 weeks for it. I'm so worried, has anyone else's child ever had this?? My son is just 2. It is always worrying to feel any kind of lumps in your child but don't get too concerned. My son had these recently after a bout of croup and like you I was instantly imagining the worst - more so because my son has had a thyrodectomy so I am always cautious with regards to his neck area. It was the doctor who showed them to me and let me feel them but said they were normal after a virus and would disappear within a fortnight.

Head and neck surgery--otolaryngology

Applications of sonography in head and neck pathology

Color atlas of human anatomy, in 3 volumes. Internal organs

Head and neck cancer, a multidisciplinary approach

Endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery