pure anti-oestragen

[adrien]

Hi,
I'm about to start monthly injections of pure anti-oestragen because my oncologist thinks that the tablet form may contribute to tumour growth. Has anyone else had this or know anything about it?
Adrien

[Lani]

it sounds like Faslodex aka Fulvestrant

Dr. Slamon, the "father" of herceptin has given talks at conferences where he states that he believes it is the best antihormonal for her2 + patients, as they tend to be "relatively resistant" to both tamoxifen and AIs.

The work showing increased growth of her2+ tumors was initially done in mice I believe and involved giving tamoxifen without giving herceptin.

I don't like to post these as many her2+ er+s who were treated before herceptin became widely available, may worry if they were treated with tamoxifen without herceptin, but the studies were done on mice. Neoadjuvant studies on humans have raised some questions as well, however.

Also "relatively resistant" does not mean they do not work, just that they work less well than on her2-s.

Only recently have trial results started to become available (many more still not available) of treatments combining herceptin and antihormonals.

Tamoxifen works by blocking the Estrogen receptor so estrogen cannot get to it and start the cascade of reactions that stimulates cell growth, etc

AIs work by blocking the synthesis of estrogen so there is almost none to get to the receptor, similarly blocking its initiation of that cascade of reactions

Faslodex works by making the estrogen receptors fall off every cell in the body permanently--once you stop taking it the new cells would have estrogen receptors, but some cells in your body replace themselves only once in a blue moon. Nevertheless those on faslodex complain of very few side effects.

I have asked the drug company representatives and poster presenters at the San Antonio bc conference over 3 years if they think it crosses the blood brain barrier and noone seems to know for sure and noone is too interested in doing the research.

Sorry if I told you more than you wanted to know or if I scared anyone.

This is really an area where they are only speculating because they don't know with certainty yet.

Faslodex has almost only been used for stage 4s-I have only heard of one trial of adjuvant use, and not seen that one published yet (but still looking)

Hope this helped

[adrien]

Thanks Lani,
I'll have to find out the name. I'm not stage 4 but this has been going on a long time and previous combinations of either
1. Herceptin, Taxotere and Femera
or
2. Tykerb and Temerifen aren't enough.

My oncologist is trying to keep toxicity levels down. Even though it's metastatic it's only in the right axilla and the skin. No other organs so whopping it isn't appropriate. I guess he's trying to find the right balance. Radiotherapy is useless.
Adrien
PS Biopsy often says it's oestragen negative when it isn't. it switches receptors depending on what drugs I'm on.

[TSund]

Lani or others...do you know why faslodex is not used in pre stage 4 cancer? When Slamon says he believes it the best, does he mean for all stages of Her2+/ER+ bc?

I'm interested in the apparantly low side affects given how many problems people have had with the AI's. I am guessing Ruth will be changed to an AI (or possibily this drug?) once menopause is proven "sticking".

We took an early shot on Slamon's words before with the TCH and it appears to have worked great. My gut would go with him again an instant.

TRS

[TSund]

bringing this up as didn't receive answer.

Lani or others...do you know why faslodex is not used in pre stage 4 cancer? When Slamon says he believes it the best for HER2+, does he mean for all stages of Her2+/ER+ bc?

I'm interested in the apparantly low side affects given how many problems people have had with the AI's. I am guessing Ruth will be changed to an AI (or possibily this drug?) once menopause is proven "sticking".

We took an early shot on Slamon's words before with the TCH and it appears to have worked great. My gut would go with him again an instant.

TRS
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[Kimberly Lewis]

Hi - I would like to hear the answer to that one. I am going to ask my new Onc. about it today. We moved to the Charlotte area and am trying out a new Onc to save on driving miles.... I like the idea of a 1x shot as compared to a daily pill that makes me ache so bad. thanks Lani, Kim

[Becky]

Faslodex is not a one time shot. You need 2 loading doses every 2 weeks. After that, you need one shot per month.

I know of no trials testing Faslodex in early bc.