Is Tykerb good for reducing brain tumors or just good for prevention
 

Hi all,
My confusion is that is Tykernb good as a preventive medicine or is good for even reducing brain tumor if the cancer has already metasized to the brain.
I have an aunt who is ER PR negative and Her2 +++. She had a 3 cm brain lesion which was removed using gamma knife and now after 8-9 months of gamma knife she has a new lesion in the brain. She has already had one year of Herceptin.
Now will tykernb be beneficial for her or should she first undergo surgery and then be put on tykerb. Or should she first try with tykerb and if it seems to reduce the lesion size the she goes for surgery later or not at all.
I guess some of the ladies who have been on Tykern clinical trials might have been faced with similar situation.
Would highly appreciate any advices.

Dr. Pegram at UCLA indicated to me that Tykerb's main benefit would be in preventing brain lesions. success in reducing the size of existing lesions was in the single digits.

Whether someone had time to try the tykerb and see if it helped would depend on the individual situation and whether there was need for urgency in taking action sooner.

I would discuss it with the neurosurgeon and get a second opinion on it.

Added info: this link is GSK's 2006 announcement, but scroll down to find the titled paragraph noted here.

Tykerb Activity in Brain Metastases Associated with Breast Cancer
http://www.gsk.com/ControllerServlet?appId=4&pageId=402&newsid=843

Thanks for this link... lot of good info. I am going to try this on my Mom as early as 2 weeks to reduce existing brain lesion... Will know in 30 days how it works out.

Rupali,

My current 8 brain mets shrunk nearly 50% twice after the first two rounds (two months ea.) from my chemo combo of Xeloda/Temodar.

These 8 brain mets have now stayed stable, no new lesions, no edema for appox. 14 months.

There have been several small studies done using this combo for breast cancer brain mets, with some small, but positive, responses. I feel extremely lucky to be responding as well as I am.

My point in replying here is that even tho' a very small percent of people may be helped by a certain drug, one NEVER knows in advance if you will be that person who does well.

If the Tykerb responses for shrinkage in brain mets are small...SOMEONE is still getting that small benefit.

Very best wishes to you,
pattyz