Yervoy vs Anti PD – 1

Chris,

I don't know which anti-PD-1 is better, but If it was me, I would opt for the BMS trial. If it works, you won't have to  do Yervoy or radiation.

I have been researching these drugs for quite some time. I am a Stage IV survivor since 2007.

 

Jimmy B

Chris,

I don't know which anti-PD-1 is better, but If it was me, I would opt for the BMS trial. If it works, you won't have to  do Yervoy or radiation.

I have been researching these drugs for quite some time. I am a Stage IV survivor since 2007.

 

Jimmy B

Chris,

I don't know which anti-PD-1 is better, but If it was me, I would opt for the BMS trial. If it works, you won't have to  do Yervoy or radiation.

I have been researching these drugs for quite some time. I am a Stage IV survivor since 2007.

 

Jimmy B

This is actually a very good question, and I doubt anyone knows the right answer.

The PD1 drugs from both BMS and Merck are showing good results and I don't believe anyone knows yet which one is "better".  The idea of combining ipi and radiation makes a lot of sense, based on good data showing that radation improves response.  So, which to do first?  

It might hinge on any previous treatments.  I would look closely at the exclusion criteria for the trials.  Some earlier PD1 trials excluded people who had taken ipi.  And most trials limit the number of prior systemic therapies.  If your husband has had a couple of prior threapies then adding ipi to the mix might make him ineligible for later entering a PD1 trial.  

In other words, be as careful as you can that your decision does not close off other alternatives in the future.  You know that since ipi is an approved drug it will always be available.  I do know that a lot of new slots are opening up for PD1 and both companies are pushing hard to get these drugs through the approval process.

Ipi is fairly well studied and the data is relatively mature.  PD1 drugs are showing better response with fewer side effects, but the data is still young and those factors may change.  

So, the right answer depends on weighing all the risks and all of the benefits and going with what seems to make the most sense to you.  In other words, given all the above there is no definitive right answer or wrong answer.  Both approaches make sense.

Tim–MRF

This is actually a very good question, and I doubt anyone knows the right answer.

The PD1 drugs from both BMS and Merck are showing good results and I don't believe anyone knows yet which one is "better".  The idea of combining ipi and radiation makes a lot of sense, based on good data showing that radation improves response.  So, which to do first?  

It might hinge on any previous treatments.  I would look closely at the exclusion criteria for the trials.  Some earlier PD1 trials excluded people who had taken ipi.  And most trials limit the number of prior systemic therapies.  If your husband has had a couple of prior threapies then adding ipi to the mix might make him ineligible for later entering a PD1 trial.  

In other words, be as careful as you can that your decision does not close off other alternatives in the future.  You know that since ipi is an approved drug it will always be available.  I do know that a lot of new slots are opening up for PD1 and both companies are pushing hard to get these drugs through the approval process.

Ipi is fairly well studied and the data is relatively mature.  PD1 drugs are showing better response with fewer side effects, but the data is still young and those factors may change.  

So, the right answer depends on weighing all the risks and all of the benefits and going with what seems to make the most sense to you.  In other words, given all the above there is no definitive right answer or wrong answer.  Both approaches make sense.

Tim–MRF

This is actually a very good question, and I doubt anyone knows the right answer.

The PD1 drugs from both BMS and Merck are showing good results and I don't believe anyone knows yet which one is "better".  The idea of combining ipi and radiation makes a lot of sense, based on good data showing that radation improves response.  So, which to do first?  

It might hinge on any previous treatments.  I would look closely at the exclusion criteria for the trials.  Some earlier PD1 trials excluded people who had taken ipi.  And most trials limit the number of prior systemic therapies.  If your husband has had a couple of prior threapies then adding ipi to the mix might make him ineligible for later entering a PD1 trial.  

In other words, be as careful as you can that your decision does not close off other alternatives in the future.  You know that since ipi is an approved drug it will always be available.  I do know that a lot of new slots are opening up for PD1 and both companies are pushing hard to get these drugs through the approval process.

Ipi is fairly well studied and the data is relatively mature.  PD1 drugs are showing better response with fewer side effects, but the data is still young and those factors may change.  

So, the right answer depends on weighing all the risks and all of the benefits and going with what seems to make the most sense to you.  In other words, given all the above there is no definitive right answer or wrong answer.  Both approaches make sense.

Tim–MRF

Actually,  Tim, the current pD1 trials are requiring that you FAIL IPI first.  All PD1 trials require you have disease they can biopsy before you start.  There's a good list being updated regularly on melanomaforum.org.

Actually,  Tim, the current pD1 trials are requiring that you FAIL IPI first.  All PD1 trials require you have disease they can biopsy before you start.  There's a good list being updated regularly on melanomaforum.org.

Actually,  Tim, the current pD1 trials are requiring that you FAIL IPI first.  All PD1 trials require you have disease they can biopsy before you start.  There's a good list being updated regularly on melanomaforum.org.

 

If you would like, I will share with you my knowledge.

 

I am a 55-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma at the end of last July. In my lymphnods, lungs and brain. Like everyone else, I was given the "doom and gloom" prognosis of 6 to 9 months.

 

Here it is seven months later, and I am showing no signs of the disease and my treatment is going well.

 

I am being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida with Yervoy. I had four doses approximately 3 weeks apart with the last one being New Years Eve 2012. I had no side effects of any significance.

 

Like one of the other replies before me, I was told that Yervoy must fail before they can start you on the Anti-PD 1. The reason I had explained to me is that both of these drugs are owned by the same company and I guess it has something to do with allowing them to recover their R & D costs. Based on what I have read and have been told I would prefer your Option B.

 

Why? My main physician said the Anti-PD 1 drug is much better and has a higher success rate with longer longevity. He even went on to tell me the story of one of his professors in school telling him that if he had one drug to combat cancer, he would prefer the Anti-PD1 over all others.

 

I hope it helps. Please make sure you do what you can, and more importantly, your husband does what he can, to maintain a positive outlook and take a refusal position to allow this disease to overcome him. I would be the first to admit that there are no known studies that even remotely suggest that one's outlook has anything to do with the outcome. On the other hand, and to be fair, they have not performed any such studies because the money and time is consumed by cures.

 

If you would like, I will share with you my knowledge.

 

I am a 55-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma at the end of last July. In my lymphnods, lungs and brain. Like everyone else, I was given the "doom and gloom" prognosis of 6 to 9 months.

 

Here it is seven months later, and I am showing no signs of the disease and my treatment is going well.

 

I am being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida with Yervoy. I had four doses approximately 3 weeks apart with the last one being New Years Eve 2012. I had no side effects of any significance.

 

Like one of the other replies before me, I was told that Yervoy must fail before they can start you on the Anti-PD 1. The reason I had explained to me is that both of these drugs are owned by the same company and I guess it has something to do with allowing them to recover their R & D costs. Based on what I have read and have been told I would prefer your Option B.

 

Why? My main physician said the Anti-PD 1 drug is much better and has a higher success rate with longer longevity. He even went on to tell me the story of one of his professors in school telling him that if he had one drug to combat cancer, he would prefer the Anti-PD1 over all others.

 

I hope it helps. Please make sure you do what you can, and more importantly, your husband does what he can, to maintain a positive outlook and take a refusal position to allow this disease to overcome him. I would be the first to admit that there are no known studies that even remotely suggest that one's outlook has anything to do with the outcome. On the other hand, and to be fair, they have not performed any such studies because the money and time is consumed by cures.

 

If you would like, I will share with you my knowledge.

 

I am a 55-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma at the end of last July. In my lymphnods, lungs and brain. Like everyone else, I was given the "doom and gloom" prognosis of 6 to 9 months.

 

Here it is seven months later, and I am showing no signs of the disease and my treatment is going well.

 

I am being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida with Yervoy. I had four doses approximately 3 weeks apart with the last one being New Years Eve 2012. I had no side effects of any significance.

 

Like one of the other replies before me, I was told that Yervoy must fail before they can start you on the Anti-PD 1. The reason I had explained to me is that both of these drugs are owned by the same company and I guess it has something to do with allowing them to recover their R & D costs. Based on what I have read and have been told I would prefer your Option B.

 

Why? My main physician said the Anti-PD 1 drug is much better and has a higher success rate with longer longevity. He even went on to tell me the story of one of his professors in school telling him that if he had one drug to combat cancer, he would prefer the Anti-PD1 over all others.

 

I hope it helps. Please make sure you do what you can, and more importantly, your husband does what he can, to maintain a positive outlook and take a refusal position to allow this disease to overcome him. I would be the first to admit that there are no known studies that even remotely suggest that one's outlook has anything to do with the outcome. On the other hand, and to be fair, they have not performed any such studies because the money and time is consumed by cures.

 

If you would like, I will share with you my knowledge.

 

I am a 55-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma at the end of last July. Like everyone else, I was given the "doom and gloom" prognosis of 6 to 9 months.

 

Here it is seven months later, and I am showing no signs of the disease and my treatment is going well.

 

I am being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida with Yervoy. I had four doses approximately 3 weeks apart when the last one being New Years Eve 2012. I had no side effects of any significance.

 

Like one of the other replies before me, I was told that Yervoy must fail before they can start you on the Anti-PD 1. The reason I had explained to me is that both of these drugs are owned by the same company and I guess it has something to do with allowing them to recover their R & D costs. I have based on what I have read and have been told I would prefer your Option B.

 

Why? My main physician said the Anti-PD 1 drug is much better and has a higher success rate with longer longevity. He even went on to tell me the story of one of his professors in school telling him that if he had one drug to combat cancer, he would prefer the Anti-PD1 over all others.

 

I hope it helps. Please make sure you do what you can, and more importantly, your husband does what he can, to maintain a positive outlook and take a refusal position to allow this disease to overcome him. I would be the first to admit that there are no known studies that even remotely suggest that one's outlook has anything to do with the outcome. On the other hand, and to be fair, they have not performed any such studies because the money and time is consumed by cures.

 

If you would like, I will share with you my knowledge.

 

I am a 55-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma at the end of last July. Like everyone else, I was given the "doom and gloom" prognosis of 6 to 9 months.

 

Here it is seven months later, and I am showing no signs of the disease and my treatment is going well.

 

I am being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida with Yervoy. I had four doses approximately 3 weeks apart when the last one being New Years Eve 2012. I had no side effects of any significance.

 

Like one of the other replies before me, I was told that Yervoy must fail before they can start you on the Anti-PD 1. The reason I had explained to me is that both of these drugs are owned by the same company and I guess it has something to do with allowing them to recover their R & D costs. I have based on what I have read and have been told I would prefer your Option B.

 

Why? My main physician said the Anti-PD 1 drug is much better and has a higher success rate with longer longevity. He even went on to tell me the story of one of his professors in school telling him that if he had one drug to combat cancer, he would prefer the Anti-PD1 over all others.

 

I hope it helps. Please make sure you do what you can, and more importantly, your husband does what he can, to maintain a positive outlook and take a refusal position to allow this disease to overcome him. I would be the first to admit that there are no known studies that even remotely suggest that one's outlook has anything to do with the outcome. On the other hand, and to be fair, they have not performed any such studies because the money and time is consumed by cures.

 

If you would like, I will share with you my knowledge.

 

I am a 55-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma at the end of last July. Like everyone else, I was given the "doom and gloom" prognosis of 6 to 9 months.

 

Here it is seven months later, and I am showing no signs of the disease and my treatment is going well.

 

I am being treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida with Yervoy. I had four doses approximately 3 weeks apart when the last one being New Years Eve 2012. I had no side effects of any significance.

 

Like one of the other replies before me, I was told that Yervoy must fail before they can start you on the Anti-PD 1. The reason I had explained to me is that both of these drugs are owned by the same company and I guess it has something to do with allowing them to recover their R & D costs. I have based on what I have read and have been told I would prefer your Option B.

 

Why? My main physician said the Anti-PD 1 drug is much better and has a higher success rate with longer longevity. He even went on to tell me the story of one of his professors in school telling him that if he had one drug to combat cancer, he would prefer the Anti-PD1 over all others.

 

I hope it helps. Please make sure you do what you can, and more importantly, your husband does what he can, to maintain a positive outlook and take a refusal position to allow this disease to overcome him. I would be the first to admit that there are no known studies that even remotely suggest that one's outlook has anything to do with the outcome. On the other hand, and to be fair, they have not performed any such studies because the money and time is consumed by cures.

Chris, Just saw this thread and curious which way you went. I would have gone down the Anti PD1 route but due to a metastasis on the brain which excluded me took the alternative yervoy route. It was combined with a radiation treatment of the brain metastasis via a cyber knife type treatment. Knock on wood so far so good with current NED status. Scans in a few weeks will give me more info. I am keeping a close eye on the Anti Pd1 drug as I have heard great and fast results. Hopefully whichever choice you made is working out well for you. We all have our fingers crossed for you and others in this same nasty boat. Good luck…

Chris, Just saw this thread and curious which way you went. I would have gone down the Anti PD1 route but due to a metastasis on the brain which excluded me took the alternative yervoy route. It was combined with a radiation treatment of the brain metastasis via a cyber knife type treatment. Knock on wood so far so good with current NED status. Scans in a few weeks will give me more info. I am keeping a close eye on the Anti Pd1 drug as I have heard great and fast results. Hopefully whichever choice you made is working out well for you. We all have our fingers crossed for you and others in this same nasty boat. Good luck…

Chris, Just saw this thread and curious which way you went. I would have gone down the Anti PD1 route but due to a metastasis on the brain which excluded me took the alternative yervoy route. It was combined with a radiation treatment of the brain metastasis via a cyber knife type treatment. Knock on wood so far so good with current NED status. Scans in a few weeks will give me more info. I am keeping a close eye on the Anti Pd1 drug as I have heard great and fast results. Hopefully whichever choice you made is working out well for you. We all have our fingers crossed for you and others in this same nasty boat. Good luck…

What BMS Anti PD – 1 Clinical Trial is now recruiting?

What BMS Anti PD – 1 Clinical Trial is now recruiting?

What BMS Anti PD – 1 Clinical Trial is now recruiting?

Chris, Just making sure you saw the recent breakthrough announcements a few weeks back. I read that some outstanding results came out of the Nivolumab plus Yervoy combo and I believe also huge results from Lambrolizumab/anti pd-1. It appears your timing is very good. The tumor response rates were staggering. Good luck.

Chris, Just making sure you saw the recent breakthrough announcements a few weeks back. I read that some outstanding results came out of the Nivolumab plus Yervoy combo and I believe also huge results from Lambrolizumab/anti pd-1. It appears your timing is very good. The tumor response rates were staggering. Good luck.

Chris, Just making sure you saw the recent breakthrough announcements a few weeks back. I read that some outstanding results came out of the Nivolumab plus Yervoy combo and I believe also huge results from Lambrolizumab/anti pd-1. It appears your timing is very good. The tumor response rates were staggering. Good luck.