HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - any tumor tests to predict which chemos work better?

Mandamoo · 02-28-2012, 08:22 PM

I am not sure of the specifics of the testing that I have had done (I have donated tissue for research purposes) and I am awaiting the full reports but I have preliminary reports on the initial breast tumour and axillary node tissue - the key findings so far are that the cancer was/is resistant to anthracyclines and taxotere - of course two very commonly used first line and adjuvant treatments - no surprise that I metastasised. The other key finding is that I have (if that is the correct terminology) the p53 oncogene?

I asked my oncologist if the information is helpful and she said definitely and she wishes she had it earlier and we wouldn't have wasted time on treatment that was useless. The frustration will be regulations too. I am awaiting Tykerb approval (In Australia the government funds it but you need to qualify and to qualify I have to have had 3 taxotere treatments) - it has been approved after much lobbying from my oncologist who simply refused to give me a third dose just to tick a box and now with evidence that the cancer was indeed resistant to it.

I didn't get any lung tissue from the biopsy - well - lung tissue but not neoplastic tissue - i.e. they missed. I may try again after my next scans.
This is a very interesting area.
Amanda

02-28-2012, 08:22 PM	#39
Mandamoo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 432	Re: any tumor tests to predict which chemos work better? I am not sure of the specifics of the testing that I have had done (I have donated tissue for research purposes) and I am awaiting the full reports but I have preliminary reports on the initial breast tumour and axillary node tissue - the key findings so far are that the cancer was/is resistant to anthracyclines and taxotere - of course two very commonly used first line and adjuvant treatments - no surprise that I metastasised. The other key finding is that I have (if that is the correct terminology) the p53 oncogene? I asked my oncologist if the information is helpful and she said definitely and she wishes she had it earlier and we wouldn't have wasted time on treatment that was useless. The frustration will be regulations too. I am awaiting Tykerb approval (In Australia the government funds it but you need to qualify and to qualify I have to have had 3 taxotere treatments) - it has been approved after much lobbying from my oncologist who simply refused to give me a third dose just to tick a box and now with evidence that the cancer was indeed resistant to it. I didn't get any lung tissue from the biopsy - well - lung tissue but not neoplastic tissue - i.e. they missed. I may try again after my next scans. This is a very interesting area. Amanda __________________ Amanda xx 40 year old Mum to three gorgeous kids - son 5 and daughters 8 and 11 Wife to my wonderfully supportive husband of 17 years! 22 February 2011 - Diagnosed Early Breast Cancer IDBC Stage2b (ER/PR -ve, Her2+ve +++) - 38 years old (L) skin sparing mastectomy with tissue expander, axilla clearance (2/14 affected) clear margins. Fec3, Taxotere and herceptin2 - stopped due to secondary diagnosis June 24 2011 Stage IV - Skin met, axilla node, multiple lung lesions Bolero3 trial - Navelbine, Hereptin weekly, daily Everolimus/Placebo February 2012 - July 2012 Tykerb and Xeloda - skin mets resolved, Lungs initially dramatically reduced but growing again August 2012 (turn 40!) tykerb and herceptin (denied compassionate use of TDM1) while holidaying in Italy! September 2012 - January 2013 TDM1 as part of the Th3resa trial - lymph nodes resolved, lungs slowly progressing. January 2013 - herceptin, carboplatin and Perjeta (compassionate access) April 2013 - Some progression in lungs and lymph nodes - Abraxane, Herceptin and Perjeta July 2013 - mixed response - dramatic reduction of most lung disease, progression of smaller lung nodules and cervical and hilar nodes - ? Add avastin.