Lapatnib

[hannah]

Hi
desperately need info on Lapatinib , and if anybody has had it for brain mets. Here in UK still being trialled and one of the exclusions is brain mets , which I find strange as it crosses blood/brain barrier thought this was great news for people with brain mets but not so. Need some "ammunition" to take to onc next week
thanks Hannah

[Lolly]

Hannah, I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulties with brain mets, and access to Lapatinb(also known as Tykerb). Check out Joe's "sticky" post, "GSK Approves Tykerb - Compassionate Use". Hopefully it will provide the ammunition you need, but your onc will have to work with you on access. Good luck and keep us posted.

<3 Lolly

[Christine MH-UK]

Oddly, clinicaltrials.gov comes up with a phase II brain mets trial for lapatinib in Manchester and Brighton http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00263588?order=5 , but it is not always up to date. Still, it might be worth doublechecking if either of these two locations is a possibility. According to the description, Manchester is already recruiting.

The trial purpose is to:
'Determine how safe and effective lapatinib is when used to treat patients with ErbB2 overexpressing breast cancer that has spread to the brain and is still progressing there even after radiation treatment using WBRT (whole brain radiotherapy) or SRS (stereotactic radiosurgery) to the brain. Lapatinib is an oral drug that will be taken every day. Tests for safety and efficacy will be performed every 4 weeks or 8 weeks (depending on the test) during the course of the study.'

This is the latest trial info that would be relevant (Lin 2006 presentation at ASCO)
Phase 2 trial of lapatinib for brain metastases in patients with HER2+ breast cancer
• Efficacy:
N = 39 patients, all developed brain metastases on trastuzumab therapy
2 PR ( remained on study for 23 wks and 49 wks)
8 progression free at 16 wks ( 23 pts at 8 wks )
Median TTP – 3.02 mo
Median overall survival – 6.57 mo[/left]
• Volumetric analysis of CNS lesion ( 20/39 pts)
4 pts - ≥ 30% volumetric decline
6 pts – 10% - 30% volumetric decline
• SAFETY: Grade 3
diarrhea (21%),
fatigue (15%),
headache (10%)


Best of luck.

[hannah]

thanks Christine
gong to try and contact them today
Hannah