At any juncture there is reason to explore trial options in your area. All trials have criteria one must meet usually the more treatment one has had the fewer options there are. A search at clinicaltrials.gov can be very helpful. Our search engine is also quite good though you may need to log out depending on your browser. http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2011/11/13/an-insider’s-guide-to-the-second-opinion/
Not much to add. We always want to consider an appealing clinical trial, especially if it might give access to a treatment approach not currently available as an "off the shelf" therapy.
Yeah, I've never quite understood exactly how that's figured. One may be able to argue that alimta was switch maintenance if it was given directly after first line or at least before progression. Then trialists I think tend to define things like lines of treatment vs maintenance for their particular trial and independent of a set of rules for all trials.
As for the question of maintenance therapy and line of therapy, it's a very appropriate question to ask, especially since many lung cancer specialists think of switch maintenance therapy (moving to a new treatment after completing a fixed number of cycles of first line chemotherapy) as early second line therapy. The main distinction in terms of semantics is just that it's called second line if someone demonstrated progression of their cancer before starting a new treatment. If yes, subsequent treatment is generally considered early second line therapy. If no, it's generally defined as maintenance therapy.
Reply # - February 25, 2013, 12:43 PM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Oh yes there are resources, There is quite a list of "further reading options at the end of this discussion. http://cancergrace.org/lung/2010/10/04/lung-cancer-faq-2nd-line-nsclc-o…
At any juncture there is reason to explore trial options in your area. All trials have criteria one must meet usually the more treatment one has had the fewer options there are. A search at clinicaltrials.gov can be very helpful. Our search engine is also quite good though you may need to log out depending on your browser. http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2011/11/13/an-insider’s-guide-to-the-second-opinion/
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - February 25, 2013, 05:26 PM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Thank you Janine, you're the best!
Reply # - February 25, 2013, 08:38 PM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Not much to add. We always want to consider an appealing clinical trial, especially if it might give access to a treatment approach not currently available as an "off the shelf" therapy.
Good luck.
-Dr. West
Reply # - February 26, 2013, 08:34 AM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Wouldn't that alimta shown as maintenance be considered second line with gem/carbo being first?
Take care,Judy
Reply # - February 26, 2013, 11:53 AM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Yeah, I've never quite understood exactly how that's figured. One may be able to argue that alimta was switch maintenance if it was given directly after first line or at least before progression. Then trialists I think tend to define things like lines of treatment vs maintenance for their particular trial and independent of a set of rules for all trials.
Reply # - February 26, 2013, 02:56 PM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Luke, is there any mileage in the BRAF mutation - any trials within reach that are targeting that?
Reply # - February 26, 2013, 04:48 PM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
Good question. Here are the results of a search on clinicaltrials.gov there are several recruiting.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=nsclc+braf&Search=Search
Reply # - February 26, 2013, 08:11 PM
Reply To: Second line or clinical trial?
As for the question of maintenance therapy and line of therapy, it's a very appropriate question to ask, especially since many lung cancer specialists think of switch maintenance therapy (moving to a new treatment after completing a fixed number of cycles of first line chemotherapy) as early second line therapy. The main distinction in terms of semantics is just that it's called second line if someone demonstrated progression of their cancer before starting a new treatment. If yes, subsequent treatment is generally considered early second line therapy. If no, it's generally defined as maintenance therapy.
-Dr. West