HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - any tumor tests to predict which chemos work better?

Joan M · 02-16-2012, 06:49 AM

gdpawel,

Thanks for the information about Moss.

It seems that testing which drugs would work best contradicts the trend lately to cut back on medical tests. Also, testing patients upfront is not in the best interest of pharmaceutical companies. That is, fewer patients would be getting treated with particular drugs. For example, several years ago one of my oncologists and I were discussing what was then a new drug for lung cancer, Tarceva, which as it turned out only works if a patient's cancer is genetically compatible, or has a specific genetic mutation. The oncologist noted that compatibility is not tested clinically: that is, the drug either works or doesn't work, and that indicates whether the cancer was genetically compatible. As a result, patients who are not compatible get the drug anyway. A waste of the drug. A waste of money. And unnecessary stress to a patient hoping for a good result and suffering from side effects. Seems kind of a backward process. Unless, of course, that's changed lately, and oncs are now able to test whether a person would benefit from Tarceva.

As more cancer drugs become targeted therapies -- which seems like the direction it's going -- upfront testing would have to become the rule.

Joan

02-16-2012, 06:49 AM	#17
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: any tumor tests to predict which chemos work better? gdpawel, Thanks for the information about Moss. It seems that testing which drugs would work best contradicts the trend lately to cut back on medical tests. Also, testing patients upfront is not in the best interest of pharmaceutical companies. That is, fewer patients would be getting treated with particular drugs. For example, several years ago one of my oncologists and I were discussing what was then a new drug for lung cancer, Tarceva, which as it turned out only works if a patient's cancer is genetically compatible, or has a specific genetic mutation. The oncologist noted that compatibility is not tested clinically: that is, the drug either works or doesn't work, and that indicates whether the cancer was genetically compatible. As a result, patients who are not compatible get the drug anyway. A waste of the drug. A waste of money. And unnecessary stress to a patient hoping for a good result and suffering from side effects. Seems kind of a backward process. Unless, of course, that's changed lately, and oncs are now able to test whether a person would benefit from Tarceva. As more cancer drugs become targeted therapies -- which seems like the direction it's going -- upfront testing would have to become the rule. 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; 02-16-2012 at 06:55 AM..