Tumor Marker Update, PET Scan Scheduled, T-DM1 Trial... OH MY!

After my tumor marker increased AGAIN this week (yes, we're up 15 points to 320), we FINALLY scheduled another PET scan to see what's going on.  We gave the new cocktail a 6 - 8 week period to "kick in" and do it's thing, but because the tumor marker has been fluctuating, we need to see what's going on. 

 

In the meantime, we've had a backup plan brewing!  Yesterday Jason, Marion and I visited the South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (START) Center down in San Antonio to find out more about a clinical trial using an experimental drug known as T-DM1. 

 

A quick intro about START (per http://startthecure.com/index.php):

South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (START) directs clinical trials of novel anticancer agents using a high quality and innovative information technology infrastructure to ensure accurate and rapid clinical trials in a setting that emphasizes personalized and compassionate clinical care. The mission of START is to accelerate the development of new anticancer drugs that will improve the quality of life and survival for patients with cancer. Our drug development program is not only furthering cancer research, but also offers hope to patients facing the toughest cancer battles.

 

Thanks to the best mother-in-law in the world, here are a few excerpts from some of her internet research on T-DM1...

 

According to Caring.com, T-DM1 is a 2-in1 "Trojan Horse" therapy in which Herceptin zeroes in on the cancer cells and delivers a chemotherapy agent that stops cancer cell division.  Haiken proceeds to explain that Oncologists don't like the term "miracle drug," and try not to use it -- but the word miracle was in fact used when researchers presented results of a Phase II trial of T-DM1at the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio. 

 

And according to http://www.reuters.com/, Women with an aggressive type of advanced breast cancer can live significantly longer without their disease getting worse if they are treated with an experimental "armed antibody" drug.  T-DM1 is a new kind of so-called "armed antibody" drug that can carry a cell-killing payload into cancer cells.  It combines trastuzumab, an antibody and the active ingredient in Herceptin, with the agent DM1 -- a derivative of an extremely powerful type of chemotherapy called maytansine.  "Maytansine was a chemotherapy that was being developed in the 1980s, but it was so toxic that they shelved it," Hurvitz told reporters during an EMCC briefing.  "So what they've done now is to figure out how to link it to the trastuzumab" so that it is not activated until it reaches the cancer cell.  "The magic is in the link," she said. "The whole thing is internalized within the cell. It's actually quite unique."  The fact the drug delivers its toxic payload directly into cells is also thought to be key to why it causes fewer side effects like hair loss and low white blood cell counts.

 

Ummm, "fewer side effects like hair loss and low white blood cell counts."  BOOYAH!!!  Is it possible that I dodged another bullet in the fight to keep my hair???  If not, I'm still planning on that head shaving party!  I tell ya, any excuse to throw a party, huh?!  ;)

 

So yes, I'll proceed to have my PET scan tomorrow to see what's going on, but it's looking like this trial might be my next course of action.  I'll be sure to keep you posted.  And hey, traveling to S.A. for my infusions can't be that bad... maybe I'll finally get a chance to see if the Alamo really has a basement!!  I'm almost ashamed to admit what movie that came from!  Ha ha!  ;)