Decrease in LDH a good sign?
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Decrease in LDH a good sign?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Decrease in LDH a good sign?

  • Post
    • October 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm
    Ashley
    Participant

    Hi,

    My dad has stage 4, and just started on a combo trial of nivolumab and lirilumab.  Since starting his LDH has been dropping… I don't want to get my hopes up, but at the start it was 400, after the 1st dose it went to 397, then 348, and today 260 (normal range 110-210).  I'm hoping this is a good thing, but just looking for some feedback 🙂

     

    Thanks,

    Ashley

Viewing 8 reply threads
  • Replies
      • October 6, 2014 at 4:21 pm
      rick1981
      Participant

      First of all, I'm NOT a medicial expert… but yes, all I have heard so far is that a dropping LDH value is a good sign and that there are no "falsely low" values only potentially "falsely high" values – so it seems to point in a good direction! Good luck!

      • October 6, 2014 at 4:21 pm
      rick1981
      Participant

      First of all, I'm NOT a medicial expert… but yes, all I have heard so far is that a dropping LDH value is a good sign and that there are no "falsely low" values only potentially "falsely high" values – so it seems to point in a good direction! Good luck!

      • October 6, 2014 at 4:21 pm
      rick1981
      Participant

      First of all, I'm NOT a medicial expert… but yes, all I have heard so far is that a dropping LDH value is a good sign and that there are no "falsely low" values only potentially "falsely high" values – so it seems to point in a good direction! Good luck!

        • October 6, 2014 at 4:22 pm
        rick1981
        Participant

        By the way, what is lirilumab? Is it a next gen immunotheraphy?

        • October 6, 2014 at 4:22 pm
        rick1981
        Participant

        By the way, what is lirilumab? Is it a next gen immunotheraphy?

        • October 6, 2014 at 4:22 pm
        rick1981
        Participant

        By the way, what is lirilumab? Is it a next gen immunotheraphy?

        • October 6, 2014 at 5:33 pm
        Ashley
        Participant

        Thanks!  Lirilumab is targeted to kill the melanoma, whereas nivolumab is supposed to keep the immune system from shutting down because cancer is taking too long to fight.  Liri has only been through one phase 1 study and has a really good safety profile.  I believe this is the first study it is in that includes melanoma as a target.

        • October 6, 2014 at 5:33 pm
        Ashley
        Participant

        Thanks!  Lirilumab is targeted to kill the melanoma, whereas nivolumab is supposed to keep the immune system from shutting down because cancer is taking too long to fight.  Liri has only been through one phase 1 study and has a really good safety profile.  I believe this is the first study it is in that includes melanoma as a target.

        • October 6, 2014 at 5:33 pm
        Ashley
        Participant

        Thanks!  Lirilumab is targeted to kill the melanoma, whereas nivolumab is supposed to keep the immune system from shutting down because cancer is taking too long to fight.  Liri has only been through one phase 1 study and has a really good safety profile.  I believe this is the first study it is in that includes melanoma as a target.

        • October 6, 2014 at 5:34 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

        Rick, I just assumed Ashley had meant to type ipililumumab but I googled it and found that it is an anti-kir drug.  Learn something new everyday.

        Ashley, I agree with Rick.  Although in my experience it's good not to get your hopes up to high due to the rollercoaster like ride of this melanoma challenge, I do think a decreasing LDH is a pretty good sign for you all.

        • October 6, 2014 at 5:34 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

        Rick, I just assumed Ashley had meant to type ipililumumab but I googled it and found that it is an anti-kir drug.  Learn something new everyday.

        Ashley, I agree with Rick.  Although in my experience it's good not to get your hopes up to high due to the rollercoaster like ride of this melanoma challenge, I do think a decreasing LDH is a pretty good sign for you all.

        • October 6, 2014 at 5:34 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

        Rick, I just assumed Ashley had meant to type ipililumumab but I googled it and found that it is an anti-kir drug.  Learn something new everyday.

        Ashley, I agree with Rick.  Although in my experience it's good not to get your hopes up to high due to the rollercoaster like ride of this melanoma challenge, I do think a decreasing LDH is a pretty good sign for you all.

      • October 6, 2014 at 8:37 pm
      RJoeyB
      Participant

      Agreed in general with what's already been posted, and note that everyone will be different.  Even at Stage IV for over four years now, I've never had very high tumor burden, but even when my disease has been more active, my LDH has been relatively stable.  I've also had a time or two when scans showed low activity but LDH was elevated, but for the doctors, it seems that scan results always trump LDH levels.  But given the modest downward trend your dad is seeing, it's not a bad thing.  Hopefully it's an early sign of some good scans to come.

      Joe

      • October 6, 2014 at 8:37 pm
      RJoeyB
      Participant

      Agreed in general with what's already been posted, and note that everyone will be different.  Even at Stage IV for over four years now, I've never had very high tumor burden, but even when my disease has been more active, my LDH has been relatively stable.  I've also had a time or two when scans showed low activity but LDH was elevated, but for the doctors, it seems that scan results always trump LDH levels.  But given the modest downward trend your dad is seeing, it's not a bad thing.  Hopefully it's an early sign of some good scans to come.

      Joe

      • October 6, 2014 at 8:37 pm
      RJoeyB
      Participant

      Agreed in general with what's already been posted, and note that everyone will be different.  Even at Stage IV for over four years now, I've never had very high tumor burden, but even when my disease has been more active, my LDH has been relatively stable.  I've also had a time or two when scans showed low activity but LDH was elevated, but for the doctors, it seems that scan results always trump LDH levels.  But given the modest downward trend your dad is seeing, it's not a bad thing.  Hopefully it's an early sign of some good scans to come.

      Joe

      • October 7, 2014 at 1:48 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Hi Ashley,

      My husband had very high LDH when he was diagnosed stage IV and it was considered good news when he went into the clinical trial with Ipilimimaub and GM-CSF as it began dropping when scan time came it was down closer to the normal range and continued dropping until it remained in the normal range and the scans showed the tumors shrinking.  You can read more in his profile if you would like.

      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

        • October 20, 2014 at 3:35 pm
        Ashley
        Participant

        It was a good sign!!!! 20% overall reduction, even shrunk stuff in the brain!!! So happy!!!!!

        • October 20, 2014 at 3:35 pm
        Ashley
        Participant

        It was a good sign!!!! 20% overall reduction, even shrunk stuff in the brain!!! So happy!!!!!

        • October 20, 2014 at 3:35 pm
        Ashley
        Participant

        It was a good sign!!!! 20% overall reduction, even shrunk stuff in the brain!!! So happy!!!!!

        • October 20, 2014 at 7:03 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

        Great news Ashley.  Happy for you!!!

        • October 20, 2014 at 7:03 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

        Great news Ashley.  Happy for you!!!

        • October 20, 2014 at 7:03 pm
        BrianP
        Participant

        Great news Ashley.  Happy for you!!!

      • October 7, 2014 at 1:48 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Hi Ashley,

      My husband had very high LDH when he was diagnosed stage IV and it was considered good news when he went into the clinical trial with Ipilimimaub and GM-CSF as it began dropping when scan time came it was down closer to the normal range and continued dropping until it remained in the normal range and the scans showed the tumors shrinking.  You can read more in his profile if you would like.

      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

      • October 7, 2014 at 1:48 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Hi Ashley,

      My husband had very high LDH when he was diagnosed stage IV and it was considered good news when he went into the clinical trial with Ipilimimaub and GM-CSF as it began dropping when scan time came it was down closer to the normal range and continued dropping until it remained in the normal range and the scans showed the tumors shrinking.  You can read more in his profile if you would like.

      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

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