keytruda

Options

good news from cancer researchers about keytruda, a powerful new drug


https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/08/health/cancer-d...

Comments

  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2017
  • PeacockGirl
    PeacockGirl Member Posts: 162
    edited July 2017

    I've been on this drug since December. Stage IV TNBC. Would love to connect with anyone on BC.org that is also. So far I have yet to find anyone and most of my posts get un-noticed. (mainly because I think there aren't just a lot of us out there right now)

  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited July 2017

    I think you are indeed something of a pioneer, Peacock Girl. I hope you find some others to connect with.

  • DL3
    DL3 Member Posts: 154
    edited July 2017

    Peacok, Hello, how are you doing on Keytruda? I wish you the very best

  • Jen030705
    Jen030705 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2017

    I have just been offered keytruda as a clinical trial. I have done chemo and had a double mastectomy. Now I'm going through radiation and they want me to start keytruda next week. I would really like to know how it affects you

  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited September 2017

    Peacockgirl- was happy to find this thread. Discussed this as a possibility with my MO today. She is having my tissue sample tested for something. I'm sorry but I don't remember exactly what she said . It was an overwhelming visit. I will ask again on Friday.

    I don't know much about Keytruda. Can you explain how it's taken, how it works, side effects etc...

    How are you doing on this? Are they keeping track of your tumor marker?

    Sorry for so many questions. I'm just excited about a possible option. I'm starting my ninth type of chemo Friday so I was excited discussing it as a possible future option.

    I am praying that you have great success for a long time on this.

    Hugs... D

  • Cure-ious
    Cure-ious Member Posts: 2,626
    edited September 2017

    Hi DianaRose,

    She's probably testing you for expression of PD1 or PDL1 in your tumor, as it may make you more likely to be a responder. Were you on Ibrance and Femara combination previously? Because there are some trials combining Keytruda with Abemaciclib (a related drug to Ibrance that is stronger), and so you might want to ask her if that is a good trial to consider? What part of the country are you in? we could check for clinical trials near you...

  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited September 2017
    • Cure-Ious- I read the article that had the link at the top of the page and know now that it's a particularl muted gene she is looking for. I never thought I'd be praying I had a muted gene.

    Ibrance and Faslodex worked great for three cycles then went downhill quick.

    When my cancer starts to get the edge my body acts weird and my immune system starts to attack itself. It has happened 3 times and each time I was on Mr deaths door and was told to get my affairs in order. The only thing that pulled me out was strong doses of A/C and many blood transfusions. Was totally scary.

    I don't think she would put me on Abemaciclib as it is really hard on the heart and requires ekg's and with all the A/C I've had which is harsh on the heart it would be risky.

    When I had my port put in back in November the surgeon took a lot of samples from my belly so we have plenty of tissue to test for this gene and other things down the road if needed. Doc said they store the tissue for ten years.

    If you read the article above there has been some amazing miracles for some on Keytruda. I am praying I have the right mutated gene.

  • FarAwayToo
    FarAwayToo Member Posts: 255
    edited September 2017

    I'm still in the screening stage for I-SPY-2 trial. I'm ER+/PR+/HER2- and early stage (stage 2 clinically). I-SPY has a few arms, but it's not a blind study, and I was told that with my tumor I can either be in a control arm (12 Taxol + 4AC - SOC), or in experimental arm (same chemo + pembrolizumab (Keytruda)).

    Participating in the trial adds a lot of extra steps: I did a pre-treatment MRI and another biopsy (in addition to my diagnostic biopsy). I am supposed to do another MRI and biopsy 3 weeks into the treatment. I was already willing to suck it up and do it for the science, but my hospital's satellite location where I did my first MRI screwed up, and didn't do all the sequences needed for the trial. So, now I need to re-do that 1st MRI again. This, coupled with the fact that that first MRI showed something in my "non-cancerous" breast and I needed an MRI guided biopsy, means that I need to lay on that torture device 3 times in 2 weeks time. To add insult to injury I just got my port installed today, and the only day to re-do this first MRI for the study is Wednesday, two days after port. I can't delay any further - trial or not, control arm or not - I'm starting Taxol this Friday.

    I did schedule for Wednesday, but I will see how my port area feels tomorrow. I'm pretty sore today. I honestly think it may be too much for me.

    Now, back to Keytruda. My understanding is that the tumor needs to express PD-L1, otherwise, it's useless.

    Found this article - that's basically the trial I'm (still) trying to participate in: http://www.esmo.org/Oncology-News/Efficacy-Results...

    Looks promising in terms for cPR, even for my HR+/HER2-, if I get the "pembro", of course. I may do that MRI. Too bad they won't tell us anything about PD-L1/PD1. They provide a Mammaprint score based on that biopsy, but that's it - no other details.

  • purplestargazer
    purplestargazer Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2017

    Hi everyone -

    Glad to find this thread. I am going to be enrolling in the clinical trial for Pembrolizumab. I'd love to hear about how it's going for any of you that are on it - the good, bad, and ugly...

  • frozentoes
    frozentoes Member Posts: 58
    edited February 2018

    Hello all, did any of you take part in the I-SPY2 clinical trials? I’ve been participating since November and I was randomized into the Pembro arm. So far I’ve had three pembro treatments spaced out every three weeks. We started with 12 weeks of Taxol, then AC every three weeks. Unfortunately, it looks like the pembro worked too well at kicking my immune response into high gear. I have had both thyroid and liver reactions so now I am no longer able to receive the Pembro treatments. The good news is the tumor has shrunk from 3ish cm to less than 1cm in 11 wks. Now I wait to see if my liver has calmed down enough to continue with the remaining chemo treatments.

    As for other experiences, I have to say that when I did get the Pembro treatment, the SEs from Taxol always seemed to be less problematic. And the fatigue was lessened during those weeks. N

  • Milwmama
    Milwmama Member Posts: 115
    edited April 2018

    Bumping this thread. I start Keytruda next week as my next line of therapy. I am Triple Negative.


    Anyone out there?

  • Blowhard
    Blowhard Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2018

    my wife Val has triple neg breast cancer, a rare form called metaplastic carcinoma with extensive osteosarcomatous differentiation.

    At 5cm last feb, no surgery, conerns not getting clear margins. Went on chemo, 3 rounds of AC, didnt work, then 5 rounds of carboplatim with taxol. No improvement. Tumor grew to 10cm. Stopped and waited 2-3 wks for surgery. In. Mid june surgery done with tumor at 15 cm. Path report showed mpbc with type listed above. Tumors now recurred on Vals surgery incision. Tumors also identified in right lung. Started radiation 7 wks (5dys/wk). By mid sept now tumors in both lungs and one in heart. Recurrence in surgery site started growing again. Started keytruda, have had only two doses so far, but been in icu after each dose, difficulty breathing (40 short breathes per minute) and heart rate at 40 bpm sitting still. Genetic seq of tumor showed mutations, amplified Pdl1, Pdl2, jak2, myc, LYN. Anyon have or seen this? Treatment options...keytruda, tecentriq???

    Sincerely Val's hub!!

  • Blowhard
    Blowhard Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2018

    what indicators or parameters if any can be monitored or checked while receiving keytruda to track positive results...like blood counts or tumor reduction or improvement with heart rate, or breathing, or blood pressure, et...?

Categories