for Mighty Oak and all those battling brain mets
 

I had heard of this research about 6 months ago--now the paper is out. I don't know when they might be trying using radioactive iodine (already FDA approved for thyroid cancer and widely used), but will try to find out if there are trials and if you have to have had a brain biopsy showing NaI symporter
present on the mets.

: J Neurooncol. 2009 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Breast cancer brain metastases express the sodium iodide symporter.

Renier C, Vogel H, Offor O, Yao C, Wapnir I.
Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H 3625, Stanford, 94305-5655, CA, USA.
Breast cancer brain metastases are on the rise and their treatment is hampered by the limited entry and efficacy of anticancer drugs in this sanctuary. The sodium iodide symporter, NIS, actively transports iodide across the plasma membrane and is exploited clinically to deliver radioactive iodide into cells. As in thyroid cancers, NIS is expressed in many breast cancers including primary and metastatic tumors. In this study NIS expression was analyzed for the first time in 28 cases of breast cancer brain metastases using a polyclonal anti-NIS antibody directed against the terminal C-peptide of human NIS gene and immunohistochemical methods. Twenty-five tumors (84%) in this retrospective series were estrogen/progesterone receptor-negative and 15 (53.6%) were HER2+. Overall 21 (75%) cases and 80% of HER2 positive metastases were NIS positive. While the predominant pattern of NIS immunoreactivity is intracellular, plasma membrane immunopositivity was detected at least focally in 23.8% of NIS-positive samples. Altogether, these findings indicate that NIS expression is prevalent in breast cancer brain metastases and could have a therapeutic role via the delivery of radioactive iodide and selective ablation of tumor cells.
PMID: 19618116 [

want to bump this back up
 

to be sure Believe 51 sees it!

Thanks Lani. Unfortunately, Ed cannot get any more radiation for the brain. We do not know if the Ixempra passed the BBB but that treatment has been stopped after 3 infusions. We will start with Temodar with hopes of some protection but it is my understanding that if it works, sometimes it takes a few months, time we do not have if these mets continue to grow. My hopes are that we can 'silence' them. Right now would be the perfect time for a miracle.

No matter what I appreciate the information you supply. What ever may happen with Ed and his future, the brain and bone research will continue for me. This will always be a weak spot and I would like to always keep studying it.

Keep the good stuff flowing Santa, your gifts have helped and continue to help us keep options and hope. Lots of love to you Lani.>>Believe51

this is not what you would normally call radiation to the brain
 

which even as gamma knife affects normal cells as well as abnormal cells.

This is a radionucleide which goes via the blood stream to the cells with the
NaI symporter pumps on them. Of course the radiation can affect some cells around those cells, but the amounts they need to use is tiny from what I understand.

I will try to find out more within the week about if there is a trial which will accept those who have already had external radiation therapy.

But don't give up on this--add it to your list to show the doctors and to give you HOPE