Dale met with Dr. Tsao today to discuss treatment for his recurrent lung cancer. Dr. Tsao does not want another biopsy done on the recurrent cancers. Dr. Tsao has recommended that Dale join a Clinical Trial at MD Anderson. This trial is a combination of the chemotherapy drugs, Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, and a new experimental drug by Pfizer called Figitumumab. Figitumumab (or CP-751871) is a drug designed to block certain receptors that are found on the surface of cancer cells. Figitumumab restricts the cells ability to uptake sugars and may cause the cells to die. Paclitaxel is designed to block cancer cells from dividing, which may cause them to die. Carboplatin is designed to interfere with the growth of cancer cells by stopping cell division, which may cause the cells to die.
If Dale meets the criteria for this trial, he will be accepted and initial bloodwork will be taken. An EKG will be needed also. This study is 'randomized', so not everyone recieves the new drug. Some just get the two chemotherapy drugs. Patients are told before the study starts if they are getting the new drug or not. Dale may withdraw from the study at any time.
Treatments occur about once every 3 weeks and after two treatments, Dr. Tsao will reassess the progress by doing another CT Scan. If progress is noted and Dale is tolerating the treatment well, the 3rd & 4th treatments will be scheduled. After the 3rd & 4th treatments, there will be another assessment to determine if Dale will continue on to the final 5th & 6th treatment. This is a Phase 3 trial, which means it has passed the first two Phases of trials and is showing good promise on cancers like Dale's with progression-free survival (PFS).
Dr. Tsao discussed side effects and the "ugly" side of chemotherapy, but was very adament that this is the best option for Dale. She hopes that Dale will have 2-4 days of feeling slightly ill and tired after the treatment and then recover fully for the next couple of weeks before the next treatment. At each treatment, she will exam Dale and review current bloodwork to verify that he's "good to go" with another treatment.
If, at the end of the 6th treatment, Dale will have the option to continue the Figitumumab for another 17 months (without chemotherapy) if he is seeing good results.
The plan is to discuss this with family members this weekend and if the consensus is to go ahead with the trial, then once accepted into the trial - treatment could begin next week!
http://mediaroom.pfizer.com/portal/site/pfizer/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1016273&newsId=20090530005024&newsLang=en
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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2 comments:
Hey Phyllis,
I am really praying for your entire family, especially your dad. I know that cancer is a tough battle, but you seem to be keeping such a positive mindset! Thank you for being such a great role model and for sharing your dad's journey with everyone. I will definitely be following you guys indirectly and will be checking in periodically. At MD Anderson, you are truly in the BEST hands...there's nowhere else you'd rather be in the whole world. Best wishes. <3
Qing
Joe was on Paclitaxel and Carboplatin along with a different 3rd drug. I think your Dad will handle the chemo well. Remember, they'll give him a "cocktail" to handle the initial symptoms and they have great new medications to combat the side effects. Having the treatments 3 weeks apart is great...gives him plenty of time to recover. I'll be thinking of you and your Dad.
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