Does anyone know more about these?The information I got is that a trial is being conducted at newcastle university…with these agents with braca1/braca2 advanced cancer.This is a targeted treatment. There is a possibility that the treatment might be used as prevention in future! So hope for our children. The results are out in 18 months.
Hi Neelima
Someone on the other forum posted a link to a news story about it. It said:
"The new drug, which belongs to a class of anti-cancer medicines called PARP inhibitors, is designed to exploit the ‘Achilles’ heel’ in hereditary cancers. In essence it will block DNA repair in the BRCA genes and destroy their chances of multiplying.
This drug could also be free of the side effects associated with other cancer treatments such as pain, nausea and hair loss. Researchers say that the drug could also be used against other forms of cancers, including those of the prostate and the pancreas, although further research is required in that area.
‘The implications for women and their families are huge because if you have the gene, there is a 50 per cent risk you will pass it on to your children. You are carrying a time bomb,’ said Dr Ruth Plummer, senior lecturer in medical oncology at Newcastle University.
The drug is presently under trial on patients in Newcastle. Researchers who pioneered the drug are of the opinion that it could be made available within a decade. So keep those fingers crossed! "
Katie xx
I was screened for this trail February 08, but unable to take part as even though my breast cancer has spread to the bone it is difficult to monitor results. When I had my ovaries removed they also found breast cancer there and biopsy taken fron the peretinium (thinks thats its name) wall confirmed it there as well, but the ct/mri scans aren’t picking it up so again couldn’t take part in this trail as researchers couldn’t monitor accurately. Its weird coz good news cancer is too small but also slightly disappointed at the time coz u wanted 2 help. ive 2 kids 15 and 11 and I worry 4 them. Fingers crossed as you said.
Lynni
I’ve just found out that I’m BRCA2 (and have mets) and my oncologist has said that I can go on the PARP trial as and when it’s appropriate for me to (am currently stable on Xeloda) so I’m pleased there’s another option available to me.
Lynni - I also have bone (and liver) mets so was interested to read your post.
Addenbrookes in Cambridge are also running the trial.
Pinkdove
Hi Pinkdove
Love the name by the way .
Seems as if we are in a similar situation. I will also be able to go on PARP trial when appropriate. When I was diagnosed last year this treatment wasn’t available and its great to know there is another option. I remember when I found out about my mets, I trawled the internet looking for reassurance that people could live for years with this disease. My BC nurse would mention women attending the clinic for 4 years, 6 years but that wasn’t long enough to me. I was only 43. Now 18 months down the line, I feel well apart from the side effects of Femara ie aching jointsand my cancer isn’t my first thought in the morning and its not my last thought at night.
Lynni
Hi Lynni
Thanks for your post! It is heartening to know that we do have another option open to us because 2 years ago that wasn’t reality for me (Xeloda was the only option available and they didn’t think that was going to work).
I’ve posted on bcpals as well (under Sheena!) to find out if anyone is actually on the trial yet and if they’ve got any side effects, etc but have had no responses yet. It also looks as though there are a number of different ones as I think I read somewhere that there’s PARP1 and PARP2 so I’m finding it a bit confusing until I’ve spoken to my oncologist.
I’m now 53 but was diagnosed initially when I was 40 and didn’t expect to be here now so I think it just shows you how we can buck the stats sometimes!
Pinkdove
There are several PARP trails at the Marsden or anticpated at the Marsden. Many BRCA1 and BRA2 cancers are triple negative so people with triple negative recurrent cancer are being recruited on some of the trials even if not BRCA. I was told by a guy at the Marsden that after I’ve been through taxol and vinroilbine I might be elegible for a Phase 1 trial coming up at the Marsden. Trouble with phase 1 trials is they are essentially experiemental…may provide useful benefit for the future but not always for those on the trial.
I think the idea of PARP inhibitors as prevention is exciting.
Jane
Hi Jane
The trial that I might go on is a Phase II which is interesting. I’m ER+ but have also heard that a lot of triple negs can carry the BRCA gene.
I agree with you that Phase I trials are essentially experimental and it’s about weighing up a number of factors on whether you decide to go ahead. I was offered a Phase I trial a couple of years ago and after weighing it all up decided I didn’t want to take the risk plus it was a randomised trial and I’ve read that these PARP ones aren’t.
Hi again Pinkdove and to you Jane
I didn’t realise there was PARP1 and PARP2, but I’ve an appointment at the Genetics beginning October (yearly review) and I’ll ask. I know when they were explaining to me how these PARP inhibitors work (hopefully) it was clever and exciting stuff. They were also very hopeful there would be no side effects, but as these inhibitors had previously been used with chemo they weren’t 100%. They only had recruited 3 people at that time as the trial at Newcastle has just began and no side effects reported, but of course it was early days. Could I ask what you mean by triple negative? Lynni
Hi Lynni
If you are triple neg it means that Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Exemestane (the HRT therapies) won’t work for you, in the same if you’re not HER2 positive then Herceptin won’t work for you.
Other than that Jane will be able to tell you more.
I’ve only just been realising this week (since being told that I’m BRCA2) that there are different PARPs. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Newcastle trial (the Phase II which started in February) was looking to recruit around 50 women. I’m not sure what they are doing here but I agree it is exciting stuff as it means another door has potentially opened for us.
Pinkdove
Yeap you’re right, Newcastle were looking to recruit 50 BRCA1/2 women, don’t know how long this will take. They seemed to have high hopes for the success of this trial. Fingers X.
Agree with you - fingers crossed!
Just replied to you on the other thread as well!