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.
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