Update on research trial for TNBC

http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/arm-i-spy-2-trial-investigating-medivations-talazoparib-treatment-breast-cancer-activated-nasdaq-mdvn-2127313.htm

This has some info about the particular arm I am in for the ISPY2 trial. THere is a link in the article for the ISPY-2 trial also.

Just wanted to do a quick update on my situation. As you can see in my signature, my tumor is quite large. I started on the regimen Nov. 9. I still have hair. I know that will probably go away when I get the AC chemo ... but as long as things go okay, I am on this study regimen for 3 months.

My symptoms have been "barely any" to "couch-bound." I have gone on short-term disability just from the inconsistency of my sick schedule so I can get a consistent paycheck. But mostly it's fatigue/exhaustion and little appetite. No real bad nausea at all. My hemoglobin is about 10 (iron won't help) and WBCs around 2-3. The symptoms I had at first with the study drug seem to be getting better although the hemoglobin and WC still going down. It does seem less harsh than other chemo agents, more targeted.

My tumor per breast MRI scan on Nov. 29th was down almost a centimeter! So is a 3 cm-lymph node. This is good. I was told by my oncologist that so far 2 people on the same regimen in the study had a complete response. Out of how many I'm not sure. My tumor is so large we don't think that will happen, but the fact it CAN happen is promising.

We also don't know if I'm BRCA positive or not (or if those with complete response were) --they know it will work better in those patients. I will be finding out my BRCA status in a month or so, but I really have no family history.

They are testing the daily pill Talazoparib with every other week Irinotecan for plain TNBC ... whether BRCA status is unknown or negative (or positive). I think they said it had "signs" of working for either status and was looking to be an additional option for those with TNBC.

The trial requires stage II or III I think. Also Mammaprint high risk. 80% get randomized to study drug, 20% get standard treatment. You get extra breast MRIs, blood work, biopsies ... so if that's not for you, understandable. You don't pay for the extra tests. You do pay for the other chemo, not the study drug though.

Hope this is informative. I think it's very good news that TNBC patients may have another option soon for everyone. There is another drug, Keytruda (immunotherapy) that is being trialed as well for TNBC.