IL2 success…what happens now?

It is encouraging to read of the good response to interleukin-2. Although I
can't answer your specific questions about IL-2, melanoma treatment is
changing very fast. With this in mind, it is wise to be aware that IL-2 has
been around for a while.

My late wife responded well to standard chemo (fotemustine), but the
duration of this response was not very long. I believe that IL-2 may work
better than ordinary chemo for some people, although newer experimental
treatments sound much more promising.

Unfortunately, melanoma is a very devious cancer and it is very likely to
outsmart nearly all treatments that we have. Although existing tumors may
shrink or even disappear, there is a chance that other tumors may appear
elsewhere in the body. Therefore, clinical trials are the next thing that
most people will look at.

Here is a link to the clinical trials that are available:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/refine?term=melanoma

Frank

It is encouraging to read of the good response to interleukin-2. Although I
can't answer your specific questions about IL-2, melanoma treatment is
changing very fast. With this in mind, it is wise to be aware that IL-2 has
been around for a while.

My late wife responded well to standard chemo (fotemustine), but the
duration of this response was not very long. I believe that IL-2 may work
better than ordinary chemo for some people, although newer experimental
treatments sound much more promising.

Unfortunately, melanoma is a very devious cancer and it is very likely to
outsmart nearly all treatments that we have. Although existing tumors may
shrink or even disappear, there is a chance that other tumors may appear
elsewhere in the body. Therefore, clinical trials are the next thing that
most people will look at.

Here is a link to the clinical trials that are available:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/refine?term=melanoma

Frank

Tricia,

I'm so happy your Mom is a responder!  Maybe more people will see this post and respond since it's the beginning of the week.

Congrats.

Amy S. in Michigan

Tricia,

I'm so happy your Mom is a responder!  Maybe more people will see this post and respond since it's the beginning of the week.

Congrats.

Amy S. in Michigan

Hi Tricia,

Of course, no one can tell you what happens next because this darn disease is so variable.  But here's how it happened for me.  Maybe a few others will post their experiences to give you a range of ideas of how your mom's follow up might play out.

I was down to one pesky subQ after two complete rounds of IL-2.  Everything else responded but this one wasn't budging.  I had the first half of round three, had the subQ resected, and then had the second half of round 3.  I had the regular PET scan four weeks later and was declared NED.  My next follow up was three months later.  (Unfortunately, I had a recurrence at that scan, but the plan had been to scan every three months.)

If she continues to respond after round 3 but has not had a complete response, it's possible they might offer yet another round.  I don't know.  If she recurs right away, my understating is that more IL-2 would not be offered.  However, I remember someone (probably Jane from Maine) who'd had a complete response saying that her doctor stated that if her disease were to recur after at least two years, her doctor would offer more IL-2. 

So there's some possibilities of what might happen.  Now here's what i hope DOES happen…the last of the little buggers are blasted into oblivion by round 3, never, ever to be heard from again!

Best,

KatyWI

Hi Tricia,

Of course, no one can tell you what happens next because this darn disease is so variable.  But here's how it happened for me.  Maybe a few others will post their experiences to give you a range of ideas of how your mom's follow up might play out.

I was down to one pesky subQ after two complete rounds of IL-2.  Everything else responded but this one wasn't budging.  I had the first half of round three, had the subQ resected, and then had the second half of round 3.  I had the regular PET scan four weeks later and was declared NED.  My next follow up was three months later.  (Unfortunately, I had a recurrence at that scan, but the plan had been to scan every three months.)

If she continues to respond after round 3 but has not had a complete response, it's possible they might offer yet another round.  I don't know.  If she recurs right away, my understating is that more IL-2 would not be offered.  However, I remember someone (probably Jane from Maine) who'd had a complete response saying that her doctor stated that if her disease were to recur after at least two years, her doctor would offer more IL-2. 

So there's some possibilities of what might happen.  Now here's what i hope DOES happen…the last of the little buggers are blasted into oblivion by round 3, never, ever to be heard from again!

Best,

KatyWI

Tricia,

My husband responded to IL-2 3 rounds and there was one tumor left that shrunk but did not disappear. They watched it for a year then surgically removed it, the tumor was dead. That was in his lung. We were told since the tumor was completely dead that he was a complete responder. Unfortunately 3 months after the lung surgery 3 small intestinal tumors showed up. He had these surgically removed. Since then 20 months since last surgery he has been NED. I think they basically watched for as long as they can to see if the tumors grow/disappear because it takes a long time for them to be absorbed if they are dead tissue. One thing that would be helpful is a PET to see if the tumors are even active. My husband's lung tumor was not.

It's hard to say what will happen. If possible the doctors may opt to try and sugically remove any active residual disease after the IL-2 and then you mom could be NED that way. I would look at it this way, it's great that your mom responded to the first line of immuntherapy because I think it may make the chances of them responding to another even greater, but that's just my opinion.

Good luck.

Rebecca

Tricia,

My husband responded to IL-2 3 rounds and there was one tumor left that shrunk but did not disappear. They watched it for a year then surgically removed it, the tumor was dead. That was in his lung. We were told since the tumor was completely dead that he was a complete responder. Unfortunately 3 months after the lung surgery 3 small intestinal tumors showed up. He had these surgically removed. Since then 20 months since last surgery he has been NED. I think they basically watched for as long as they can to see if the tumors grow/disappear because it takes a long time for them to be absorbed if they are dead tissue. One thing that would be helpful is a PET to see if the tumors are even active. My husband's lung tumor was not.

It's hard to say what will happen. If possible the doctors may opt to try and sugically remove any active residual disease after the IL-2 and then you mom could be NED that way. I would look at it this way, it's great that your mom responded to the first line of immuntherapy because I think it may make the chances of them responding to another even greater, but that's just my opinion.

Good luck.

Rebecca