Huge New Breakthrough Regarding TN!!!

Meggy

I just read an article that says that they have discovered that there are at least 6 different sub-types of Triple Negative.  Says they are testing which specific chemo works best on each sub-type.  This could really save some lives.  God bless scientists.

Google Barry Windsor...he wrote the July 1011 article.  I dont know how to ad a link.

mrsnjband

You should be able to just cut & paste it into the reply boc. There is a hyperlink button that looks like chain, it's right next to the clipboard on the menu reply box.

I'm looking for the article but haven't found it yet. NJ 

juliedor

Thanks Meggie,It's so good having other eyes watching out for things I may miss.Triple negative BC is a huge, not well understood disease.Lets hope this is a breakthrough!

badger

good morning all, here's a link to Barry Windsor's article, and the original study.

http://surgery.idpdnexus.org/?p=1651

http://www.jci.org/articles/view/45014

bak94

This is interesting, but I am so tired of articles pointing out how triple negative have such a poor prognosis! Maybe I am just crabby today (definitely) or just want to be in denial about the whole triple neg thing! I had triple neg stage 2b 8 years ago and now have a new primary, but anyhow, 8 years without a recurrence is pretty good, and mabye that one will never recur, but now I have to worry about this new later stage one:(   Hard to stay positive when every article talks about how hard to treat triple neg is and how the recurrence rate is higher than other types, especially when I thought I had read studies that showed the recurrence rates actually even out with time, so which is it?

(changed my profile name because I was worried about personal online security)

b k

bak94

Sorry Meggy, this was such a positive post by you and I just vented on it. It's just my bad mood today! You are an inspiration-3 years out!

brca1babe

I think the problem for us who have cancer right now is that none of this is part of clinical practice. 

My MO had already told me the TNBC is actually many different cancers that behave quite differently.  And because I am BRCA1 I likely have the basal type and this type might respond best to cisplatin but there are no clinical trials of that yet for early BC, so he can't recommend it. 

So it will be a while before they can customize chemo appropriately for us TNs.

wildfilee

I think we all have to keep in mind that all of these conflicting articles are written by different people with subjective opinions and by some people with objective opinions (that have actually done the testing).  All that really means for us, I think, is that they often go back and forth with what is actually going to help TNS.  I think it's kind of like one onocologist says one thing and another says a completely different thing.  Oh well, maybe I haven't said anything constructive here but I'm having one of those non-constructive days myself!  Thanks BK!

alamik

Whew!!! After reading both of those articles, I think I might be a little terminology crazy. Think I may have dosed off a time or two as well. haha!! I did gain some great information, however. The issue now is how to get these study results into trials and then into active treatment. Alot of this information is stuff that we have already known and are using in treatments now. But just knowing how the different genes are affected by the experiments is interesting. I also think it only emphasizes the importance of the oncotype and gene testing. The problem is that most insurance companies will probably balk at paying for this due to the fact that it isn't the normal status quo. I know with tnbc, many doctors don't like to run these tests either because they think they are ineffective, but after reading these articles, I truly believe more testing should be done to find out exactly what group of subtypes that we all fall into. Another problem is that many oncs really aren't up on the latest research, and sadly that effects all of us. In order for us to be able to understand our diagnosis, our docs have to understand it first. Then we as a team can make the best treatment choices based on our own subtype and phenotypes. Who wants to do 5 months of chemo and then find out that it never had the right tools to help us in the first place?

I'm excited about this research and only hope that it can get into trials ASAP!!! 

squidwitch42

I have yet to delve into the articles, but my dear friend who had chemo along with me (T/C) and was stage 1 relapsed and went to stage 4 in a matter of 4 months. Her next chemo (of which I would need to ask her...) found her responding like a champ and NED after 6 rounds.

We adopted the rationale that her first chemo could not have been the right "match." She is BRAC1

I would like to think that it was just a matter of a subtype of TN, and that she will sail right along now.

Keep the info coming (and I will read articles on my "lunch break...")

Traci

Suze35

I have read this, and think it is a step in the right direction to developing more targeted therapies.  Not necessarily new drugs, but at least knowing what chemos to try first.

My doctor is having my tumor tested now for androgen receptivity and epithelial growth factor inhibition, because there are promising targeted therapies for these.  Advances in understanding of TN have led to this thankfully.

Not the "magic wand," but a move forward, and I celebrate every step!

brca1babe

suze,

that is so interesting that you are getting that additional testing.  where are you being treated?

let us know what you find out and if they use it to adapt your treatment.

Suze35

brca1babe - I'm getting treated in NH, but I had my surgery at Massachusetts General, and since they have my tumor tissue, it was easy for my MO to have them order the tests.  I'll definitely keep you posted!

mitymuffin

Suze, I will be interested in hearing what your tests show. These are promising approaches.  I wonder what percentage of TNs have the androgen receptivity and EGFI? I hope your tests come out with the best possible results.

Susan

Lynn18

Meggy:  Thanks for posting this.  I agree with others, this is a step forward to understanding how to treat TN.  I hope it can lead to more successful treatments as soon as possible.

tibet

Sqardwitch 42

What is the chemo for your friend who is BRCA1 positive?

I changed my profile name due to security issues on internet. 

kittycat

Very interesting info.  It seems like a lot of us TNBC's have received AC/T chemo.  However, other chemos could possibly have worked better.  Hmmm...  I'm BRCA1+ and I think my tumor was basal like.  I'd have to look at my pathology report again.