Treebywater Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Well, we got our CT scan results back today. Not so good. The original tumors in the lungs have grown, and there are more there now. There's growth in the lymph nodes, the bones looked mostly the same--some growth particularly on one rib and maybe some on one of her vertebrae, and now there are mets in the liver... So... Not so good at all. BUT... The doctor wants to try a new drug called Perifosine. Has anybody heard of that one? I sure hadn't. I guess it was JUST approved for use with LC and is still in the trials phase. They don't have any placebos in the trial, they're just fooling around with dosage issues. The doc. thought it was worth a shot. After that he said we'd look at Tarceva. The scans aren't the greatest news, BUT... Mom didn't even bat an eye at the idea of continuing with a new course of action. The things she had been saying about not wanting to do anymore, I guess were more a smokescreen of sorts than anything. So THAT encourages me. I was impressed with the doc today (only my second time meeting him). Here we are in a podunk little town, and he's wanting to try something that sounds pretty new and cutting edge. I think he's agressive and up on his game. So that's where we stand now. Please pray that she'll be approved to get the Perifosine and that it's just the ticket. That's what we're hoping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Doggonit Valerie... Prayers that perifosine will do it. I have not heard of it, though. cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Well Val we hate bad news but we love drs. that are agressive and cutting edge. This may just do the trick for your Mother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Hope your mom does well with the new treatment. I think a lot of people change their minds about serious decisions when the chips are down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Sorry to hear the news, Val. I am not familiar with the new drug, but hope it yields positive results. My thoughts are with you both, Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finster Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Val, I'm not familiar with the new drug, but I pray it helps your mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I hope this new drug does the trick for her. You're right her doc sounds great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I'm sorry the results were crappy. my mom was dead-set against another surgery - until the biopsy came back. I can't blame her one bit, either. praying for you, here. keep us posted. xoxo bunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughnut Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I can't help you with the drug I'm afraid. If it's new in the US then we won't be testing it on mice until about 2050 I'm sorry to hear your Mum's bad news but it sounds as though as she's regained her spark and is ready to fight on which can only be a good thing. I like the sound of her doc too. Dee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Looks like this drug is so new, that we don't know too much about it yet. I wish your mom lots of luck and good results. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Never heard of the new drug,but I hope it works for your mom.I'm glad she has decided to keep fighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I am sorry to hear of your mom's bad news. I have never heard of perifosine. I suppose it is worth a try. you might ask her onco doc about using avasitn in combination with other drugs such as taxol and carboplatin. That is a new recipe too. It has had good results for others. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Prayers and hugs, Val. Love Pat and Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Here's what I found thru Goggle. KRX-0401, or Perifosine, is the prototype of a new group of anti-cancer drugs referred to as alkylphosphocholines that appear to be potent inhibitors of the activation of Akt, a protein in the body associated with tumor survival and growth. Akt appears to be inherently activated in approximately 10-50% of most tumor types and is also believed to be activated by, and thus confers resistance to, most anti-cancer therapies. Once activated, Akt exerts its cell survival and cell proliferation functions. Based on its prevalence across cancer types and importance in the control of cell survival and cell proliferation, Akt is considered to be one of the most important cancer targets being researched today. In pre-clinical models and early clinical trials, Perifosine displayed impressive anti-tumor activity, as well as anti-Akt activity. Treatment with Perifosine did not result in myelosuppression, or toxicity to the bone marrow, which is a major side effect of most traditional anti-cancer treatments. Accordingly, we believe that Perifosine is well suited for use in combination regimens with established anti-cancer therapies and, therefore, represents a significant market opportunity. In proliferation assays, Perifosine inhibited the growth of a variety of human tumor cell lines. Perifosine was also tested in vivo in a number of animal models and shows significant single agent anti-tumor activity. Additionally, Perifosine strongly enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cell lines, as well as the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide in the DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinoma model. The combination regimens were superior to chemotherapy alone and the combinations were well tolerated. Three Phase I studies of Perifosine have been completed in Europe and two other U.S.-based Phase I trials with the NCI pursuant to the CRADA arrangement have been completed or are nearing completion. Data from these trials demonstrates that Perifosine is a safe drug with a reasonable toxicity profile and no observed myelosuppression, or bone marrow suppression. The dose limiting toxicity in each Phase I study was gastrointestinal toxicity, primarily nausea and vomiting. Perifosine also displayed preliminary single agent activity as evidenced by a total of two partial responses and 16 disease stabilizations in these heavily pre-treated refractory cancer patients. We believe this data confirms the anti-cancer activity of Perifosine and that Perifosine represents a new class of anti-tumor agents that promote apoptosis and block cell growth signals. Please see "Clinical Trials" for more information. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2004 by Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Update Notice | Disclaimer | Contact Us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Ginny, Really good info for all of us. I hope your mom does well on the treatment. Is it an IV chemo or a pill like Tarceva? Best of luck, TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treebywater Posted June 22, 2005 Author Share Posted June 22, 2005 Ginny,Really good info for all of us. I hope your mom does well on the treatment. Is it an IV chemo or a pill like Tarceva? Best of luck, TAnn It's a pill which Mom was all for. I guess we'll be pioneers then. Keep you all posted on how it goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Valerie, Prayers for the best for your mom and you. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaffie Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Hope this Perifosine does the trick... Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Val, Haven't heard of Perifosine, but just wanted to remind you that your family is in my prayers, ALWAYS. Love and Prayers, Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail p-m Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Sorry to hear the scans didn't go as well as hoped but glad to hear your mom is ready to pick up the fight. Haven't heard of the drug either but as you pointed out, the oncologist seems to be an up to date kind of doc and that's important. Hope this drug is your mom's magic bullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Hi Val, Like the others, I'm really sorry to hear about the progression. I know that can be devastating news. It sure was good that the doctor had an aggressive plan already in place when your mom got the news. I'm sure if you like and trust the doctor that your mom does, too. I don't know anything about the drug, but thanks to Ginny's post, we all know a little more. Prayers for your mom. Love, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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