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How sick is too sick for Yervoy?

Forums General Melanoma Community How sick is too sick for Yervoy?

  • Post
    mimi0201
    Participant

      Does anyone have any idea of what the status has to be in order  to receive Yervoy?  When is it too late?

      Does anyone have any idea of what the status has to be in order  to receive Yervoy?  When is it too late?

    Viewing 9 reply threads
    • Replies
        Gene_S
        Participant

          A suggestion for you, if you think it is too late… possibly it is?  It is hard to answer your question without knowing where you are now and where have you been?  Where is the melanoma and what prior treatments (drugs) have been tried? Have you been involved in any prior trials?  Ippi is getting alot of attention now but remember that it is only helping 1 in 6 patients! Also time may be a problem as ippi can take time to show results.

          Below is info that I posted to a different thread that may be of interest to you if you are really a late stage patient.

          It seems that PLX4032 is helping melanoma patients if nothing else to buy a little extra time to figure out their next

          avenue to beat this disease.

          ________________________________________________________

          Have you heard about PLX4032?

          It is a drug that show quick response, but not long term results (yet anyway).

          What you need is time right now, so do check it out.

          see:

          http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110106005659/en/Plexxikon-Signs-Agreement-Genentech-Co-Promote-PLX4032

          ———————————————————————————————————————-

          Apart from surgical treatments, there are few therapies available for

          melanoma that provide safe, reliable outcomes. According to Dr.

          Weinstock, however, various threads of research shed light on the

          possibility of promising agents in the future. “As we understand

          more the mechanisms by which melanomas develop and grow,

          agents will likely be produced that can address these specific mechanisms,”

          he notes.

          Two agents have generated particular interest. The first is an investigational

          molecule currently known as RH7204 (PLX4032,

          Genentech) that is designed to selectively inhibit a cancer-causing,

          mutated form of the BRAF protein found in roughly half of metastatic

          melanomas. In a recent study presented at the seventh

          International Melanoma Research Congress of the Society for

          Melanoma Research, people who participated in the trial lived a

          median of 6.2 months without their disease getting worse (median

          progression-free survival or PFS), which is significantly higher than

          the typical two month progression-free survival for these patients.

          The second agent, known as PV-10 (Provectus), yielded an objective

          response (OR) in 49 percent of patients in a recent phase 2

          trial, with 71 percent of patients achieving locoregional disease

          control (stable disease or better) in their injected lesions. A mean

          Progression Free Survival (PFS) of 11.7 months was observed among

          subjects achieving an OR. These results were also presented at the

          International Melanoma Research Congress in Sydney.

          Also recently, the FDA has extended its review of ipilimumab

          (Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of advanced melanoma.

          The original target date for decision has been pushed back to March

          26, 2011 so that the FDA can review new data about the drug’s use in

          pre-treated melanoma patients. Trial results published earlier this

          year showed average patient survival time was 10 months with ipilimumab

          versus just over six months for patients using traditional

          therapies.

          ——————————————————————————–

          complete article at

          http://bmctoday.net/practicaldermatology/pdfs/PD1210%20Skin%20Cancer%20Fea.pdf

          Best Wishes,

          Gene

          Gene_S
          Participant

            A suggestion for you, if you think it is too late… possibly it is?  It is hard to answer your question without knowing where you are now and where have you been?  Where is the melanoma and what prior treatments (drugs) have been tried? Have you been involved in any prior trials?  Ippi is getting alot of attention now but remember that it is only helping 1 in 6 patients! Also time may be a problem as ippi can take time to show results.

            Below is info that I posted to a different thread that may be of interest to you if you are really a late stage patient.

            It seems that PLX4032 is helping melanoma patients if nothing else to buy a little extra time to figure out their next

            avenue to beat this disease.

            ________________________________________________________

            Have you heard about PLX4032?

            It is a drug that show quick response, but not long term results (yet anyway).

            What you need is time right now, so do check it out.

            see:

            http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110106005659/en/Plexxikon-Signs-Agreement-Genentech-Co-Promote-PLX4032

            ———————————————————————————————————————-

            Apart from surgical treatments, there are few therapies available for

            melanoma that provide safe, reliable outcomes. According to Dr.

            Weinstock, however, various threads of research shed light on the

            possibility of promising agents in the future. “As we understand

            more the mechanisms by which melanomas develop and grow,

            agents will likely be produced that can address these specific mechanisms,”

            he notes.

            Two agents have generated particular interest. The first is an investigational

            molecule currently known as RH7204 (PLX4032,

            Genentech) that is designed to selectively inhibit a cancer-causing,

            mutated form of the BRAF protein found in roughly half of metastatic

            melanomas. In a recent study presented at the seventh

            International Melanoma Research Congress of the Society for

            Melanoma Research, people who participated in the trial lived a

            median of 6.2 months without their disease getting worse (median

            progression-free survival or PFS), which is significantly higher than

            the typical two month progression-free survival for these patients.

            The second agent, known as PV-10 (Provectus), yielded an objective

            response (OR) in 49 percent of patients in a recent phase 2

            trial, with 71 percent of patients achieving locoregional disease

            control (stable disease or better) in their injected lesions. A mean

            Progression Free Survival (PFS) of 11.7 months was observed among

            subjects achieving an OR. These results were also presented at the

            International Melanoma Research Congress in Sydney.

            Also recently, the FDA has extended its review of ipilimumab

            (Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of advanced melanoma.

            The original target date for decision has been pushed back to March

            26, 2011 so that the FDA can review new data about the drug’s use in

            pre-treated melanoma patients. Trial results published earlier this

            year showed average patient survival time was 10 months with ipilimumab

            versus just over six months for patients using traditional

            therapies.

            ——————————————————————————–

            complete article at

            http://bmctoday.net/practicaldermatology/pdfs/PD1210%20Skin%20Cancer%20Fea.pdf

            Best Wishes,

            Gene

            mimi0201
            Participant

              My husband progressed to Stage IV 15 months ago.  He took part in the Oncovex trial for 9 months.  Then 2 rounds of IL-2, then out to NIH for a TIL harvest, but was dismissed when we returned for infusion, due to left axilla tumor opening up.  He has now had 2 rounds of carbo/taxol, radiation, and the axilla tumor is again opening up.  He is pretty weak but still wants to receive Yervoy.  We're headed down to Rush to consult with our oncology group there today.  He understands the toxicity and length of response time but still wants to go for it.  Hopsice is all lined up waiting. 

                mimi0201
                Participant

                  (He's B-raf negative.)

                  Gene_S
                  Participant

                    See: http://therapy.collabrx.com/

                    Best wishes,

                    Gene

                    Gene_S
                    Participant

                      See: http://therapy.collabrx.com/

                      Best wishes,

                      Gene

                      mimi0201
                      Participant

                        (He's B-raf negative.)

                        Lori C
                        Participant

                          Mimi, just wondering who you are seeing at Rush.  Will saw Dr. Kaufman and his associate and they were very good. 

                           

                          Lori

                          Vermont_Donna
                          Participant

                            Mimi,

                            I did four infusions of Ipi from December 2010 to February 2011. I started having a response that was visible after the second dose and after the four dose my cutaneous and sub q's were entirely gone from my right leg (the olny place I have had melanoma). I had really very minimal side effects…some increased fatigue and some nausea, and at one point a non itchy rash that lasted for about a month. I know there are side effects that can occur months or even years after the treatment. It is doable for sure. How sick does your husband feel at this point? Is he working? I apologize if all that is in your patnet.

                            I wish your husband success with this treatment!

                            Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                            ps the tumors got bigger, more inflamed and then reabsorbed on Ipi

                            Vermont_Donna
                            Participant

                              Mimi,

                              I did four infusions of Ipi from December 2010 to February 2011. I started having a response that was visible after the second dose and after the four dose my cutaneous and sub q's were entirely gone from my right leg (the olny place I have had melanoma). I had really very minimal side effects…some increased fatigue and some nausea, and at one point a non itchy rash that lasted for about a month. I know there are side effects that can occur months or even years after the treatment. It is doable for sure. How sick does your husband feel at this point? Is he working? I apologize if all that is in your patnet.

                              I wish your husband success with this treatment!

                              Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                              ps the tumors got bigger, more inflamed and then reabsorbed on Ipi

                              Lori C
                              Participant

                                Mimi, just wondering who you are seeing at Rush.  Will saw Dr. Kaufman and his associate and they were very good. 

                                 

                                Lori

                              mimi0201
                              Participant

                                My husband progressed to Stage IV 15 months ago.  He took part in the Oncovex trial for 9 months.  Then 2 rounds of IL-2, then out to NIH for a TIL harvest, but was dismissed when we returned for infusion, due to left axilla tumor opening up.  He has now had 2 rounds of carbo/taxol, radiation, and the axilla tumor is again opening up.  He is pretty weak but still wants to receive Yervoy.  We're headed down to Rush to consult with our oncology group there today.  He understands the toxicity and length of response time but still wants to go for it.  Hopsice is all lined up waiting. 

                                Cate
                                Participant

                                  Hi, my dad received only 2 infusions of IPI and it held his cancer at bay for almost 2 years. Also treated in Chicago, only at Loyola.  Rush is a great place too.

                                  Cate
                                  Participant

                                    Hi, my dad received only 2 infusions of IPI and it held his cancer at bay for almost 2 years. Also treated in Chicago, only at Loyola.  Rush is a great place too.

                                    mimi0201
                                    Participant

                                      Decison made, he would not survive Yervoy.  Hospice has been engaged and right now he's pain free and enjoying a nap at home in the sunshine with a cat on his lap.  Man this sucks………

                                        mimi0201
                                        Participant

                                          Lori;  We've been seeing Kaufman and Batus for 14 months, tears all around today saying goodbye to the great team.  Their job must be so tough.

                                          mimi0201
                                          Participant

                                            Lori;  We've been seeing Kaufman and Batus for 14 months, tears all around today saying goodbye to the great team.  Their job must be so tough.

                                          mimi0201
                                          Participant

                                            Decison made, he would not survive Yervoy.  Hospice has been engaged and right now he's pain free and enjoying a nap at home in the sunshine with a cat on his lap.  Man this sucks………

                                            nicoli
                                            Participant

                                              I am so sorry. Please do not give up HOPE, where there is life there is HOPE.

                                              Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

                                              nicoli
                                              Participant

                                                I am so sorry. Please do not give up HOPE, where there is life there is HOPE.

                                                Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

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