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StephN · 02-05-2007, 02:17 PM

In fact my hubby and I were discussing last night my good fortune with having Herceptin as a monotherapy last so long successfully in my case. I first heard about the PTEN connection on this board in the early days. I printed it out and showed it to my onc who replied that indeed we could assume that I had a high level of PTEN working in my favor. Have not been tested for this, but could now that I have my tumor blocks.

So, why OH why did my adjuvent treatment not work? Adria failed, so I assume my TOPOII is low - but that is recent research and not info we had when I was first treated.

And why did Taxotere fail me and TAXOL add to my success against my mets?
Was it the Taxol/Herceptin synergy??

If memory serves, Micheleu was tested for her PTEN level. You might search for a post on it. The following is from the article:

"PTEN activity might play an important and major role in its HER2/PI3K/Akt-mediated antitumour effect, and could be a useful biomarker for predicting the efficacy of trastuzumab in the treatment of breast cancer.

Keywords: breast cancer; erbB2; trastuzumab; PTEN; Akt"

Surely there are other bits of our pathology what play a big role, and that is why we have the Oncotype tests, which I also have not had.

If you have a progression, try hard to have a biopsy and the latest test done, for a better understanding of what will work in that case. It takes a very smart oncologist to keep up with all this now. Especially for us HER2's.

02-05-2007, 02:17 PM	#6
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	I have wondered the same for a long time ... In fact my hubby and I were discussing last night my good fortune with having Herceptin as a monotherapy last so long successfully in my case. I first heard about the PTEN connection on this board in the early days. I printed it out and showed it to my onc who replied that indeed we could assume that I had a high level of PTEN working in my favor. Have not been tested for this, but could now that I have my tumor blocks. So, why OH why did my adjuvent treatment not work? Adria failed, so I assume my TOPOII is low - but that is recent research and not info we had when I was first treated. And why did Taxotere fail me and TAXOL add to my success against my mets? Was it the Taxol/Herceptin synergy?? If memory serves, Micheleu was tested for her PTEN level. You might search for a post on it. The following is from the article: "PTEN activity might play an important and major role in its HER2/PI3K/Akt-mediated antitumour effect, and could be a useful biomarker for predicting the efficacy of trastuzumab in the treatment of breast cancer. Keywords: breast cancer; erbB2; trastuzumab; PTEN; Akt" Surely there are other bits of our pathology what play a big role, and that is why we have the Oncotype tests, which I also have not had. If you have a progression, try hard to have a biopsy and the latest test done, for a better understanding of what will work in that case. It takes a very smart oncologist to keep up with all this now. Especially for us HER2's. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.