8 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 2, 2004 NEWS 4 Vaccine protects against cervical cancer, s WASHINGTON (AP) - Efforts to develop the world's first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer took a key step forward yesterday with test results sug- gesting that it can provide long-lasting protection. Four years after getting the vaccine, 94 percent of women were protected from infection with the virus that causes most cervical cancers and none had developed worrisome precancerous condi- tions, a study showed. "We're thrilled about these results. The immune responses seem to be really long-lasting," said Eliav Barr, who leads development of the vac- cine for Merck & Co. The company plans to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval next year for an expanded version of the vaccine that also could be used to prevent genital warts in both women and men. The new study was funded by Merck and led by University of Washington researchers who pre- sented results yesterday at a meeting of the Ameri- can Society for Microbiology. "They showed clear effectiveness," said Scott Hammer, a Columbia University infectious dis- ease expert who reviewed the work but has no ties to Merck or the study. "This is a very important issue for women's health around the world." If the vaccine makes it to market, it would be the second developed to prevent cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine has dramatically reduced the number of infections that progress to liver cancer. Cervical cancer strikes nearly half a million women worldwide each year and kills about half. In the United States, about 15,000 women get it and about 5,000 die. Virtually all cases are caused by infection with human papilloma virus, or HPV, which is spread through sex. One strain, HPV-16, accounts for about half of all cervical cancers. A previous study showed that HPV-16 infections were completely prevented in 768 women who had received the Merck vaccine 18 months earlier. None developed precancer- ous conditions either. udy says The new study followed 755 of these women for four years after vaccination. HPV-16 infections had taken hold in seven; none developed precan- cers. In a comparison group of 750 women who received dummy shots, infections took hold in 111 and precancers formed in 12. Even though protection had waned for a small number of women in the study, the vaccine's effec- tiveness was still very high, said Douglas Lowy, a National Cancer Institute scientist who invented the vaccine. The government gave rights to devel- op it to two companies - Merck and GlaxoSmith- Kline - and Merck's work is a little farther along, Lowy said. "Revaccination might be advisable at some point," but it will take more study to know whether that is necessary or would improve effectiveness, he said. Women in the study were ages 16 to 23 when they received the vaccine, given in three doses over six months. "Most people think it would be recommended for young adolescents. The idea would be you would immunize people relatively soon before they become sexually active," because the germ is spread through sex, Lowy said. Meanwhile, Merck is in the final stages of test- ing an expanded vaccine. Besides HPV-16, it con- tains strain 18, which causes another 10 percent to 20 percent of cervical cancers, as well as strains that cause genital warts in men and women, and penile and anal cancers in men. About 25,000 women and men have been enrolled in that study in 34 countries, and results are expected next year, Barr said. Giving the vaccine to men would not only prevent disease in them but also would prevent infections in their partners, said Steven Projan, a drug development expert with Wyeth who helped review research for the microbiology meeting. The vaccine also might prevent women already infected with HPV from developing cancer, he said. Court won't hear Kevorkian appeal DETROIT (AP) - An attorney for assist- ed suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian said his client will keep fighting for his release from prison despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision yesterday not to hear his appeal. The court, without comment, turned back an appeal in which Kevorkian claimed he had an ineffective attorney when he was convicted in Michigan of second-degree murder in the 1998 poisoning of Thomas Youk. Youk had Lou Gehrig's disease, and Kevorkian called it a mercy killing. The death was videotaped and shown on nation- al television. Attorney Mayer Morganroth said the 76- year-old Kevorkian will ask Gov. Jennifer Granholm to commute his sentence and release him on parole. Kevorkian asked Gra- nholm to release him late last year, but she refused because the state parole board ree- ommended against it, Morganroth said. Morganroth said he was surprised by the Supreme Court's decision. He said the court had signaled it wanted to address the issue of assisted suicide for terminally ill patients who have unstoppable pain. "I think it's sad. That's all I can say," Mor- ganroth said. Morganroth spoke to Kevorkian yesterday and said he also was disappointed. "Certainly, he was hoping that the Supreme Court would address this issue," he said. Morganroth said Kevorkian is in poor health, suffering from heart trouble, hepatitis C, high blood pressure and double hernias. Morganroth asked an Oakland County judge to release Kevorkian in 2003 because of his health problems, but the judge refused. Kevorkian appealed to the Supreme Court after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear his appeal in June, saying it lacked merit. The appeals court sided with a federal judge who refused to grant Kevork- ian a new trial last November. It was the second time the Supreme Court has turned back an appeal from Kevorkian: Two years ago, the court refused to consider his claim that his prosecution was unconsti- tutional. Kevorkian has said he assisted in at least 130 deaths, but has promised in affidavits that he will not assist in a suicide if he is released from prison. Michigan banned assisted suicide in 1998. A Businessman defends hurling record with pumpkin gun HOWELL (AP) - A Michigan business- man is preparing to defend the title he won by building a gun that fired a pumpkin 4,594 feet through the air. Bruce Bradford, 57, is tight-lipped about the specifics of his entry in the World Champion- ship Punkin Chunkin. Since 1986, the event has been held on a farm in Delaware's Sussex County. The event begins Friday and is expected to draw 100 contestants and 40,000 spectators. "It's classified," Bradford, owner of S&G Steel Erectors in Howell, told the Detroit Free Press. "All the guys at Punkin Chunkin are great guys, but when it comes to shooting, things get serious. "This year, everyone will be gunning for me. They're not too happy that the trophy's left Delaware two years in a row now. Can't say I blame them." Bradford became interested in the sport in 1998 when he read an article about Punkin Chunkin and decided to fly to Delaware to watch the competition. A steel fabricator and member of the National Rifle Association, Bradford said he wanted to get a closer look at the machines, but security would not let him into the pits. Pretending to be a reporter, he was allowed to enter. "We drank beer, saw the machines, shucked oysters. It was one big tailgate party. When we got back, we decided to build one," Bran- ford said. The gun, made of aluminum, weighs 18,000 pounds, and its barrel extends 100 feet, sport- ing a 210-millimeter bore. With its matte black paint, Second Amend- ment looks menacing, an impression confirmed by the bright yellow lettering that reads: "Bad- dent Punkin Gun on the Planet." In 1999, Bradford entered Second Amend- ment into competition and finished fifth, with a shot of 3,059 feet. He made improvements yearly, and in 2002 he was victorious with a ride of 3,882 feet. This year, though, his confidence is waning. On Sunday, Bradford and his eight-man team tinkered at a friend's Howell farm, mak- ing final adjustments and taking a last round of practice shots.. They then planned to dismantle it and head to Delaware. The team is nervous because this year, Delaware is requiring all competing machines to have certification by the American Asso- ciation of Mechanical Engineers. That meant Bradford had to install new tanks on Second Amendment. "We're a little apprehensive that there are some unknowns, and we don't have the gun firing the way we want it to," he said. "Plus, punkins are strange animals. They're like snowflakes - they're all different." Notice that Bradford said "punkin," not pumpkin. Those in the sport call the 8- to 10- pound gourds they chuck punkins, not pumpkins. As they will quickly explain, "pumpkins are for carving, punkins are for chunkin." Merrill Lynch mI.com/careers/americas SHARE OUR PASSION MERRILL LYNCH PRESENTATION UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN juniors and sophomores are invited to attend: Wednesday, November 3, 2004 5:00-6:30 pm D1273 Whether you look at us in terms of people, culture, products or our virtually limitless possibilities, Merrill Lynch defines "exceptional" in every sense of the word. It's a source of pride for all of us who work here. And a source of exceptional careers for those eager to share in our passion for doing great things. Attend our presentation. And let's explore the possibilities together. 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