Taxotere + Sutent , anyone??

Falken58

Hi,

I am a 48 year-old woman, recently diagnosed with recurrence, 1 met in my left lung + 4 enlarged lymph nodes. Triple neg. (Originally diagnosed Aug.04)
I will take part in a new study where thet combine Taxotere with a new agent Sutent or SU011248 (originally approved for some kind of kidney cancer I think).

Simple question; has anyone had any experience?

I live in Sweden, Europe.

Thanks for reply!

Best of all,
anita

Anonymous

Post deleted by bco-administrator

nosurrender

moderator notified
title changed back
DO GO AWAY!!!!!

CalGal

Hi Anita -

Wow - that's a new combo that I haven't heard of ...but looks like it's being investigated for kidney and lung cancer in the US! It sounds interesting. I did a quick online check and the below article from June 2006 was the most recent one readily apparent.

I'm also a triple neg w/mets. After dose dense AC, I did Taxotere & Carboplatin. The AC worked really well; I did the T & C for insurance.

However, I also have renal cell carcinoma, so if I was about to do chemo again, I'd wonder if it could do double-duty for me! I hope it works well. Keep us posted.

Best Wishes,

CalGal


The Article:

Pfizer's Sutent shrinks tumors in kidneys, lungs
Favorable results could lead to expanded uses for drug, already approved for certain treatments.
By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writer
June 5, 2006: 6:49 AM EDT

ATLANTA (CNNMoney.com) - Sutent, an anti-cancer drug from Pfizer that's been on the market just a few months, shrank tumors and stopped them from spreading in the lungs and kidneys of patients, according to studies unveiled this weekend.

Sutent, a pill that is also called sunitinib, shrank or stabilized kidney tumors in 31 percent of patients who participated in a late-stage clinical trial that was funded by Pfizer, compared to 6 percent of patients who took the more standard intravenous cytokine drugs like Interferon.

These patients had not been previously treated for cancer.

This study could result in expanded use of Sutent, and more sales for Pfizer, the biggest drug maker in the world.

Also in the kidney cancer study, patients who took Sutent survived an average of 46 weeks without cancer spreading, while cytokine patients went 22 weeks without the cancer progressing.

In a separate study, Sutent shrank tumors in 51 percent of patients in the advanced stages of lung cancer, for whom other forms of treatment did not work. This lung cancer study was "phase 2," meaning that it was not as advanced as the "phase 3" kidney cancer study. Phase 3 is generally the most advanced stage of study before submitting a drug to the Food and Drug Administration for approval.

Dr. Mark Socinski, the lead researcher in the lung cancer study who is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina's oncology program, acknowledged that the study was still in the early stages, but said that Sutent "could have a place in the treatment of lung cancer, either alone or in combination with other agents."

In January 2006, Sutent was approved as a treatment for cancerous tumors in the gastrointestinal system, and for advanced kidney cancer patients who had failed treatment with Interferon. These two types of cancer are very different. "Even in early stages of development, we saw responses in different tumor types and we knew the drug could be active broadly," said Charles Baum, the leader of Pfizer's oncology drug development team.

These study results were announced at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Pfizer, based in New York City, totaled $51.3 billion in 2005 sales. The company's top-selling drug is the cholesterol-cutting Lipitor, which totaled $12.2 billion in sales last year.

sam52

Hi Anita!
I have a good friend who is a breast cancer oncologist in Stockholm, at the Karolinksa Institute.He was telling me recently about Sutent, and saying that it looked very promising.
I don't know anything about side effects, but this looks like a very powerful combo.
I really hope it does good things for you!

Sam

Falken58

Hi,

THANKS a lot for info. I have seen sort of the same info when I have been searching but not that article.
It DOES sound promising!

Sam52 I "belong" to the very same hospital - Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset - and the professor there wanted to start testing this. This is a European Study and I am the second in Sweden but there are 10 others in France and Italy.
The reason is my relatively small spread - "only" one small met to the lung + 4 lymphs - and my relatively young age, AND that I am also a triple neg. - there aren't a whole lot of options!

I will certainly keep you posted!
I start treatment on January 23 but first I will do some medical exams.

Love, peace and organic food!
anita

Falken58

Hi again!

Have had my first round of treatment, infusion of Taxotere + Sutent pills day 2 - 15. I was hospitalized for 3 days, only so they could take blood samples throughout the days.
This is a so called phase I study and, providing it has effect, will eventually continue into phase II studies etc. Still have not had an evaluation, THAT is of course the really interesting part of all this.(Will be beginning of March, to my understanding.)
I feel ok, have had some pains but no violent reactions.

I learned I am no. 10 in the world, so I reckon not a whole lot of people have had experience.
Doing my share of pushing science ahead (I hope!!) I will keep you posted.

Take care!
anita

Boo46

Anita,
Thank you for participating in what sounds like an important study. Please keep us posted on how things are going.
Sue

Lisa40

Thank you for being part of something that will help others. You are brave and an inspiration. Let us know how things progress. Lisa

reggio113

Should chemo be given for triple negative, even with Stage 1? This is my second bout with BC. 1992, right breast ER+,
Tamoxifen x4years. Recently dx's left breast, 1.4 cm, SNB -
Triple negative this time. Seeing onco. tomorrow. Can you help with questions to ask.
Thanks,
Mary

boobbuster

Mary- Be as agressive as possible. My 1st Onc told me that I didn't need chemo (stage I). I was re-dx as stage IV 10 months later. Do the CHEMO.. Breast cancer doesn't fight fair. So kick BC's @$$ and do the chemo and bring out the BIG GUNS! Find a doctor that's not afraid to fight. If there is a teaching hospital in your area, then get a second opinion and educate yourself about your options. God is able, Stephanie

Falken58

I am bound to agree with TripleNeg; do the chemo!As aggressive as possible!
I had a good prognosis in 2004, no lymph nodes involved, still had 6xFEC 'cause of the aggressiveness. I had the impression I was almost "overtreated".

It didn't kill all of them buggers. January 2007 I was diagnosed with a lung met + 4 enlarged lymph nodes. Same characteristics as before; triple neg. It has been there all along.
No, bc doesn't fight fair!

Best of luck
anita

reggio113

Thank you so much for your response. When I saw the Oncologist he already had everything printed out. He suggested TC. He wants to steer away from Adria due to changes on EKG. The port is going in on Monday. I was extremely happy with the onco. He answered all my questions before I even asked them. He is at a teaching hospital, Jefferson and seems very up to date on everything. Again, thanks for your support. It means alot to come here and hear what others have to say.
Mary

Lisa40

I just returned from Colorado and met with a dr at a teaching hospital there and she said that Sutent has showed a lot of promise for triple neg. She thought it would be the next line of defense drug. It is pretty new so many don't know about it. fyi. Lisa

Falken58

Report after 1st cycle; Felt ok, despite a few "pains" due to Taxotere, but on day 9 I felt really bad, developed a fever and was hospitalized 6 days with antibiotics. Turned out my white blood cells count was down to under 0,1. I had a fever 4 days before it gradually dropped.
I also had low blood pressure 90/50. My pulse dropped as well, down to 44 instead of 65-70.
Had to stop Sutent for this cycle.
Sounds very dramatic but this is a well known side effect of Taxotere maybe except for the pulse which could be a side effect of Sutent.

I feel fine now, and my tests are fine. I am scheduled for cycle 2 on Tuesday, and my doctor + nurse have not given up on me, we will continue with both drugs + a medicine that will stimulate my white blood cells.

I will make blood tests tomorrow morning (Monday Feb. 12) and they will decide whether to go through or postpone treatment one week.
I want the treatment now of course!
My lymph node under my left arm have diminished and I am in my best killing mode!!!

Will report further.

Love to you all, we can beat this!!
anita

jansdaughter

Hi Anita, i just read this thread. very interesting indeed. my mom is triple neg. Were you well enough for this last treatment or did they postpone it. I hope you are doing ok. That's great about the lymph node under your arm Yea!!! Keep up your "killing mode". Thank you for doing this trial. I hope it works for you and others. Take care. D.

Indigoblue

Asked my onc. about it; he seemed to think only mets and other cancers were elligible for the treatment, but that it was looking good for certain cases; not mine, however.

Indigo

Falken58

Hi again!

New report; Yes, I did get my 2nd treatment as scheduled. My whites' were low the day before, 1,2, but had jumped up to 5,5 the morning after.
I almost hit the roof.

They decided to reduce the dose of both Taxotere and Sutent this time, instead of giving me the "stimulating medicine" .

Have had no pain beside a sore tongue, however my white blood cells have dropped, but so far so good. I feel well but have cancelled social events due to this. I just have to fight this fight, right!!?!

Will have new test on Monday Feb.26 and a new CT is sheduled Monday March 5. My first since my recurrence diagnosis.
Next treatment sheduled March 7.

I'll be back!!

Be well and don't give up!
Love, anita

Falken58

Next report; 2 weeks after Taxotere treatment and I feel ok, but my whites are still low, had actually dropped from monday to tuesday. Had a 3rd blood sample (for this week) drawn this morning (Wednesday), waiting for response. Today was the last day of Sutent for this cycle.

Up, up, up!

all the best
anita

Boo46

Oh Anita,
Hang in there lady! Thank you so much for being a trail blazer.
Sue

Falken58

First of all; BIG thanks everyone for encouraging me!!
Second; my whites are finally on their way up! Yesterday was a "jump" from 0,4 to 1,2!! (I'm talking about a certain type of white blood cells, not all of them.)

Apparently, I AM hanging in there.
Next treatment scheduled Mars 7. CT Mars 5.

I'll be back.
Hang in there everybody!
Trail blazer thank you Boo 46. (There certainly are a lot of expressions in English I don't know!)

Love
anita

Falken58

Finally, good news!! I made a Computer Tomography Mon.pm, went to see my onc. Tues.am and was prepared that the complete results would not be ready, but all the photos were in the computer (logically) and my onc. showed me "before and after" photos. After only 2 cycles my met in my left lung had shrunken down to ALMOST half the size!!! And was not as dense as before (from stark white to a more greyish tone). I am not used to these kinds of photos but the difference was clearly visible even to me!!

And mind you; I had to stop the 1st cycle of Sutent due to fever and infection and the doses of both Tax. and Sutent were lowered for my 2nd cycle.

Now I have just received my 3rd cycle, all my blood samples were normal and I have also received daily shots (betw. day 4 -10) of Neupogene (should be sm'thing similar in English, I am too excited to look it up right now!)to increase my white blood cells count.

I am so happy!!

Love and peace to you all, don't give up!!
anita

Boo46

Oh Anita Yipeeeeee!
I am so happy this is working for you. Stay strong and keep us informed please.
Hugs
Sue

jansdaughter

Anita, you go girl! I am so happy for your results! Keep us posted. Dianne

Indigoblue

A friend I know took Sutent in a clinical trial for colon cancer, he was stage 4, and the Sutent worked. He is free of cancer, NED, remission, whatever you want to call it.

I read that this was successful in some trial studies for trip neg breast cancers. Good luck and grats on the the improved dx. Thanks for participating in the trial, it's going to, hopefully, make a successful impact on so many lives.

Falken58

Wow, thanks all of you for encouraging me, and special thanks to Indigoblue for your story, that's EXACTLY what we want to hear, isn't it?

My onc. called me last week to tell me that CT results were good; no new mets and the ones (one?) I have are all diminishing by 30%.
Still don't know what that means in cm and such, but she said the result would be posted to me. Still haven't got it, but we'll see.

Going for my next blood sample on Monday 19/3 and have taken Neupogen for 7 days.
Hope it works!!

All in all; I feel fine.
And again; I will be back!

Hang in there! All of you!

love anita

Falken58

Latest news; Neupogen works! My blood is fine, I have one week until next treatment (and hospital visit) and I don't have to stay away from people.
Great! I'll have a most entertaining week. Restaurants, cinema, exhibitions, you name it.

Love to you all,
anita

Boo46

Anita,

Good for you. Have a fun week.
Sue

NarberthMom

Anita -- Great news! Thanks for trailblazing for us triple neg gals ...

Enjoy your high WBCs this week!

-- Hillary

Falken58

New report; went to see oncologist today and all my blood tests are fine and new treatment tomorrow, my 4th. And I am still on Sutent (14 days) and Neupogen (7 days).
Seems it is working.
So far so good.

Hang in there!
Love to you all,
anita

Sachi

Anita,

This is the first I'v eseen this thread, I just want to thank you for helping all of us by trying this new drug. You are an inspiration... and its wonderful to hear your good reports!

Barb