U of WA Protocol 109

marymary · 04-21-2006, 01:39 PM

Hi:

I am brand new to this site. I am looking into University of Washington's Protocol 109. I went through this once before and was crestfallen to discover my HLA A2 status was negative. It's like trying to adopt a baby and then at the eleventh hour discovering that it fell through on a technicality. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there knows whether volunteers are still being sought or if the trial is allready full.

Also, I am wondering how you made up your mind to participate (or not) with hard data being scarce to nonexistent? Personally, my thought was that it is better to fight than not, on principle. Even if it does nothing for my immune system it might help me psychologically. That sounds like a weak argument, however, when I see it on paper. Perhaps a massage or a puppy or even a stiff drink might help me psychologically, at a fraction of the cost.

I would appreciate any feedback from others who have been there.

Thanks!

mary

patti · 04-23-2006, 08:17 PM

Hi Mary, I just got on this vaccine trial 2 wks ago and I think I am number 19 or 20. I was told that if I couldn't make this study there were others I might qualify for. You should call up there and talk to Patricia Fintak. She is the one who organizes everything. I got the impression that this vaccine is very promising. There maybe something you can qualify for. Good Luck.

DonnaNY · 04-23-2006, 10:52 PM

May I ask what drug this trial is for. What criteria one may need to fill? I am asking for my mom. Thanks !

marymary · 04-24-2006, 09:30 AM

Protocol 109 is not a drug trial. To quote from the literature it is "A Phase I Study of a DNA Plasmid Based Vaccine Encoding the HER-2/neu Intracellular Domain in Subjects with HER-2neu (HER2) Overexpressing tumors."

Study Population: Breast cancer: Stage III or Stage IV breast cancer in remission and defined as NED (no evidence of disease).

You can contact Patricia Fintak at University of Washington for more information.

Mary

DonnaNY · 04-24-2006, 10:15 PM

Thank You so much for the info ! God Bless !

marymary · 04-26-2006, 09:10 AM

Yesterday I spoke to Patty Fintak. She stated that 20 volunteers have been enrolled out of a needed 66. So space is available as of 4/25/06.

Question: (If any of you 20 read this post) how did you make up your mind to participate? Is there any hard data on HER-2 vaccines available out there? Or were you following your intuition? Not that that's a bad thing to do, that's about where I'm at right now.

Thanks.

Mary