Feds initiate probe of UC Davis brain cancer cases | News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Federal officials have initiated an investigation into the care provided to three University of California, Davis brain cancer patients who died after receiving experimental treatment. 

The university confirmed to the Sacramento Bee this week that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has asked the state to investigate the cases. The state Department of Public Health is expected to release its findings in about a month.  

The university has accused two neurosurgeons - J. Paul Muizelaar and Rudolph Schrot - of failing to get proper university and federal government approval before introducing bacteria into open head wounds on the patients' in 2010 and 2011. The doctors were trying to see if infections would stimulate an immune response against the cancer. 

State and federal officials said they could not comment on the probe. Muizelaar and Schrot did not immediately respond to email messages.