Quebec woman hopes for experimental cancer treatment in U.S.
A 22-year-old Chambly woman diagnosed with cancer could be the first Canadian to take part in an experimental treatment in Texas after exhausting her options in her home country.
Maria Muscari was diagnosed at 18 years old with Hodgkin's lymphoma. She gave up her nursing studies program at Champlain College to undergo extensive cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
"It's been lonely, it's been hard," she said.
Four years later, her cancer is still not responding to the nine treatments she's had.
"We don't really have anything here that can provide her with hope and a remission and a cure," said Dr. April Shamy, Muscari’s oncologist at the Jewish General Hospital.
Yet, Dr. Shamy has cautiously offered some hope.
She says Muscari is a good fit for an experimental treatment offered by the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas.
This new treatment prompts the body's natural killer cells to attack the Hodgkin cells.
"Everyone has natural killer cells in their bodies, mine just happen to be lazy and don't work as well to recognize the cancer cells in my body and to fight them off and kill them," said Muscari.
To qualify as a candidate for this clinical trial, that is not offered in Canada, Muscari had to have exhausted all her care options at home first.
"We got the best treatment at the Jewish General. It was amazing and they brought (her) to where they can bring her. They couldn't bring her any further and now what's happening… they're keeping her alive until we can get to that treatment," said her stepfather Rick Kidder.
The first hurdle has already been cleared.
Dr. Yago Nieto has approved Muscari as a candidate for the next phase of clinical trials in Texas this September.
The data shows that "the response rate is 94 per cent, and all 24 patients who received the same dose that Maria will receive have responded. The complete remission rate is 69 per cent," he said.
Dr. Shamy says those numbers are promising.
"For people like Maria who've had multiple lines of therapy, that's unheard of. And our goal for a 22-year-old woman is an opportunity for a cure," she said.
Now the next hurdle is financial: expenses for this trip could total $325,000.
Muscari and her family have set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations.
"I really do believe this treatment will save me, it will save me, definitely," said Muscari.
It’s a life-or-death decision, added Kidder.
"We have to get there, or she will die," he said. "We have to get her there."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.