HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Finally

Joan M · 10-24-2011, 12:06 PM

I recently checked out a vaccine trial at Sloan-Kettering, which was a DNA vaccine, but decided not to participate. The trial is being run by Dr. Gilewski who spent a lot of time explaining this phase I trial. The primary endpoints are immune response and safety. She is enrolling only 12 patients, and the trial started a few years ago at a low dosage. Two patients per dosage. Three dosage levels. She wanted to recruit me for the highest dosage, which is the last stage of the trial.

Dr. Gilewski also informed me about vaccine trials at U of Wash, but I had already checked into them. The U of Wash trial I was interested in had just closed to recruitment, but a new trial had just opened. Steph, that you're in the new trial. U of Wash e-mailed me those trial papers.

In terms of vaccines, I feel that I haven't been NED long enough and don't want to rock the boat. So, Steph, I understand how you might feel, since you've been NED a long time. I really aspire to that status! I'm so concerned about upsetting the apple cart, that when I left Sloan-Kettering recently for another group in NYC, I asked that my blood be tested every 9 weeks, rather than every 3 weeks when I have my Herceptin treatment. The onc was fine with that. But I had to ask. I wanted nothing to change. That frequency had been set up almost 4 years ago with my local onc, meaning in the first facility I received chemo for both early stage and advanced bc.

Joan

10-24-2011, 12:06 PM	#26
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Finally - a Vaccine Trial for me! I recently checked out a vaccine trial at Sloan-Kettering, which was a DNA vaccine, but decided not to participate. The trial is being run by Dr. Gilewski who spent a lot of time explaining this phase I trial. The primary endpoints are immune response and safety. She is enrolling only 12 patients, and the trial started a few years ago at a low dosage. Two patients per dosage. Three dosage levels. She wanted to recruit me for the highest dosage, which is the last stage of the trial. Dr. Gilewski also informed me about vaccine trials at U of Wash, but I had already checked into them. The U of Wash trial I was interested in had just closed to recruitment, but a new trial had just opened. Steph, that you're in the new trial. U of Wash e-mailed me those trial papers. In terms of vaccines, I feel that I haven't been NED long enough and don't want to rock the boat. So, Steph, I understand how you might feel, since you've been NED a long time. I really aspire to that status! I'm so concerned about upsetting the apple cart, that when I left Sloan-Kettering recently for another group in NYC, I asked that my blood be tested every 9 weeks, rather than every 3 weeks when I have my Herceptin treatment. The onc was fine with that. But I had to ask. I wanted nothing to change. That frequency had been set up almost 4 years ago with my local onc, meaning in the first facility I received chemo for both early stage and advanced bc. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!! Last edited by Joan M; 10-24-2011 at 12:10 PM..