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If Keytruda used as initial treatment still trial eligible?
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If Keytruda used as initial treatment still trial eligible?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › If Keytruda used as initial treatment still trial eligible?

  • Post
    • April 14, 2016 at 9:37 pm
    jade1111
    Participant

      Hello.. Heard it mentoned that if Keytruda was used via its FDA approval for initial treatment would eliminate getting into most clicial trials? I need to look threw trial data but was wonderinf if anyone else had heard that?

      Hoping that Keytruda woud be all needed but also dont want to prevent getting into a trial if necessary.

       

      Thanks so much!

       

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 14, 2016 at 9:48 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Each trial has its own disqualification criteria.  You may not be able to join a trial that includes Keytruda or Opdivo if you've already done them before.  But each trial is different.  You will have to research what you think are likely trials you would pursue if this failed and see what exclusion criteria are listed.  It's not an easy yes or no answer, sorry.

          • April 14, 2016 at 9:48 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Each trial has its own disqualification criteria.  You may not be able to join a trial that includes Keytruda or Opdivo if you've already done them before.  But each trial is different.  You will have to research what you think are likely trials you would pursue if this failed and see what exclusion criteria are listed.  It's not an easy yes or no answer, sorry.

            • April 14, 2016 at 9:48 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              Each trial has its own disqualification criteria.  You may not be able to join a trial that includes Keytruda or Opdivo if you've already done them before.  But each trial is different.  You will have to research what you think are likely trials you would pursue if this failed and see what exclusion criteria are listed.  It's not an easy yes or no answer, sorry.

              • April 14, 2016 at 10:27 pm
              Polymath
              Participant

                Hello,

                This seems like a good moment to remind everyone facing the beast, that you need to have a specialist treating you.  Your regular onc just won't due.  While any particular treatment, or mets especially in the brain may disqualify you from one or more trials, a specialist operates with a bigger toolbox. I have had almost every treatment you can think of, plus one trial already.  We have another in mind if current therapy fails. Options remain. Point is you should do all you can now with proven treatments that are boasting good response rates, rather than choosing an experimental treatment or one with a poor track record, and allow your disease to progress in order to preserve a chance at a future treatment.

                Gary

                  • April 15, 2016 at 3:28 am
                  Charlie S
                  Participant

                    Very well stated points, Gary and I would like to expand upon that a bit further if you please.

                    Everyone here needs to realize and understand that Clinical Trials are scientific experiments that use human beings as test subjects.

                     They are not approved treatments.   Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it about being altruistic and all and helping others in the future and ……………………………but quite frankly I'm a bit more concerned about saving my own life right now.

                     Clinical trials have several components/phases and are designed to answer certain research questions at each phase; those questions may or may not exclude certain people with specific clinical presentations at any given time and as a result can be elusive for qualification/entry.

                    I am not knocking clinical trials; I have participated in them, but it is important to know what they are and what they are not.

                    More to Gary's point, when dealing with advanced melanoma ,it is IMPERATIVE that one have a specialist on your team that deals with melanoma on a daily basis to help one sort it all out and I would whole heartedly agree that it is vital to deal with the here and now of treatment.

                    Sure, it is always good to have a soft plan B, but one absolutely needs a solid plan A  first…….and one that is not dependent upon plan B.

                    Cheers,

                    Charlie S

                     

                     

                     

                    • April 15, 2016 at 3:28 am
                    Charlie S
                    Participant

                      Very well stated points, Gary and I would like to expand upon that a bit further if you please.

                      Everyone here needs to realize and understand that Clinical Trials are scientific experiments that use human beings as test subjects.

                       They are not approved treatments.   Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it about being altruistic and all and helping others in the future and ……………………………but quite frankly I'm a bit more concerned about saving my own life right now.

                       Clinical trials have several components/phases and are designed to answer certain research questions at each phase; those questions may or may not exclude certain people with specific clinical presentations at any given time and as a result can be elusive for qualification/entry.

                      I am not knocking clinical trials; I have participated in them, but it is important to know what they are and what they are not.

                      More to Gary's point, when dealing with advanced melanoma ,it is IMPERATIVE that one have a specialist on your team that deals with melanoma on a daily basis to help one sort it all out and I would whole heartedly agree that it is vital to deal with the here and now of treatment.

                      Sure, it is always good to have a soft plan B, but one absolutely needs a solid plan A  first…….and one that is not dependent upon plan B.

                      Cheers,

                      Charlie S

                       

                       

                       

                      • April 15, 2016 at 3:28 am
                      Charlie S
                      Participant

                        Very well stated points, Gary and I would like to expand upon that a bit further if you please.

                        Everyone here needs to realize and understand that Clinical Trials are scientific experiments that use human beings as test subjects.

                         They are not approved treatments.   Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it about being altruistic and all and helping others in the future and ……………………………but quite frankly I'm a bit more concerned about saving my own life right now.

                         Clinical trials have several components/phases and are designed to answer certain research questions at each phase; those questions may or may not exclude certain people with specific clinical presentations at any given time and as a result can be elusive for qualification/entry.

                        I am not knocking clinical trials; I have participated in them, but it is important to know what they are and what they are not.

                        More to Gary's point, when dealing with advanced melanoma ,it is IMPERATIVE that one have a specialist on your team that deals with melanoma on a daily basis to help one sort it all out and I would whole heartedly agree that it is vital to deal with the here and now of treatment.

                        Sure, it is always good to have a soft plan B, but one absolutely needs a solid plan A  first…….and one that is not dependent upon plan B.

                        Cheers,

                        Charlie S

                         

                         

                         

                      • April 14, 2016 at 10:27 pm
                      Polymath
                      Participant

                        Hello,

                        This seems like a good moment to remind everyone facing the beast, that you need to have a specialist treating you.  Your regular onc just won't due.  While any particular treatment, or mets especially in the brain may disqualify you from one or more trials, a specialist operates with a bigger toolbox. I have had almost every treatment you can think of, plus one trial already.  We have another in mind if current therapy fails. Options remain. Point is you should do all you can now with proven treatments that are boasting good response rates, rather than choosing an experimental treatment or one with a poor track record, and allow your disease to progress in order to preserve a chance at a future treatment.

                        Gary

                        • April 14, 2016 at 10:27 pm
                        Polymath
                        Participant

                          Hello,

                          This seems like a good moment to remind everyone facing the beast, that you need to have a specialist treating you.  Your regular onc just won't due.  While any particular treatment, or mets especially in the brain may disqualify you from one or more trials, a specialist operates with a bigger toolbox. I have had almost every treatment you can think of, plus one trial already.  We have another in mind if current therapy fails. Options remain. Point is you should do all you can now with proven treatments that are boasting good response rates, rather than choosing an experimental treatment or one with a poor track record, and allow your disease to progress in order to preserve a chance at a future treatment.

                          Gary

                          • April 15, 2016 at 4:44 am
                          jade1111
                          Participant

                            Thanks so much for all the input. Very good points!!

                            • April 15, 2016 at 4:44 am
                            jade1111
                            Participant

                              Thanks so much for all the input. Very good points!!

                              • April 15, 2016 at 4:44 am
                              jade1111
                              Participant

                                Thanks so much for all the input. Very good points!!

                            Viewing 8 reply threads
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