Hello, my name is Jelena and I come from Serbia. My father has squamous cell lung carcinoma with nodes in mediastinum involvement. i think it is stage 3a since it is node on the left side (where tumor is). He had one big tumor 10.6x6cm and two small ones (around 0.5cm). After 3rd infusion of Gemzar and Cisplatin tumor shrunk 8x8cm and two small once have dispersed. After 6th infusion tumor is in the progression. Now is 8x11cm and one node from 1.4 become 1.7cm. The big node in the mediastinum is much smaller still and there are not any other tumors in the lungs or in the abdomen. surgary was not the option from the start, but I was hoping for radiation. Still doctors think that radiation is too risky since the tumor is so big and in the left side. They suggested second line Vinorelbine. Since I live in Serbia I would need to travel to some other country for clinical trail for my dad. I visited official site BMS and I sow that they have open Compassionate use program in the nearby countries.Off course I will try first here in Serbia, but I not sure that I will succeed since Serbia is not even in EU. I was also thinking about clinics in Germany. Is there something that you can help with some kind advice? What is the best thing to do now?
I am sorry for story so long but here, in Serbia there are not a lot of doctors whom you can talk to.
Thank you in advance!
Jelena
Reply # - September 8, 2015, 07:26 PM
Hi Jelena and welcome to
Hi Jelena and welcome to Grace. I'm very sorry about your father's diagnosis but I hope we can help a bit. We have quite a bit of information on 2nd line options for stage III nsclc.
The radiation oncologist may find the tumor too close to the heart and vessels since he mentioned the 'left' side being pertinent, unfortunately that wouldn't be uncommon.
I wonder if immunotherapies are available. The drug nivolumab (Opdivo) was approved in the US in April and is approved in many european healthcare systems as well. For many people with nsclc nivolumab has kept cancer at bay for months and even years isn't uncommon to find. It was shown to work better than taxotere (comparable to Vinorelbine) unfortunately at a much higher price so I don't know how easily it's gotten in Serbia.
Erlotinib (Tarceva) has shown benefit after 1st line treatment for squamous nsclc
A close to complete list w/descriptions of trials can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/
this link is to a trial open in Serbia for those with 1 prior line of treatment, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01798485?term=serbia&recr=Open&c…
a list from that link of sites in Serbia,
Serbia
Synta Pharmaceuticals Investigational Site Recruiting
Belgrade, Serbia, 3617-777
Synta Pharmaceuticals Investigational Site Recruiting
Belgrade, Serbia, 11080
Synta Pharmaceuticals Investigational Site Recruiting
Belgrade, Serbia, 11000
Synta Pharmaceuticals Investigational Site Recruiting
Kragujevac, Serbia, 34 000
Synta Pharmaceuticals Investigational Site Recruiting
Nis, Serbia, 18000
Synta Pharmaceuticals Investigational Site Recruiting
Sremska Kamenica, Serbia, 21204
I hope this is a good start,
Janine
Reply # - September 9, 2015, 02:54 AM
Thank you Janin!
Thank you Janin!
I will try first to get to the Compassionate use program by BMS for Nivolumab. I was wondering if you can give me advice for clinical trail? Since we are ready to travel somewhere in Europe, I would like to know which trail can be most effective for my dads type and stage? If I could choose, what is the best clinical trail at the moment in Europe?
I am sorry if I ask too much.
Jelena
Reply # - September 11, 2015, 09:51 AM
Jelena,
Jelena,
A trial that is in phase III has been studying the drug longest and has continually shown promise, whereas a trial that's in phase I is newer and hasn't proven effective in people. But, even a phase III trial drug isn't proven that's why the trial. So it's impossible to judge one trial drug over another. It's good to know that many phase III trials compare the new drug (or combination of drugs) with a standard treatment, like navelbine, and the drug chosen is totally random. You can find out info like that on the trials website posted above.
With that said there are many new immunotherapy drugs showing promise as well as drugs targeting mutations in squamous nsclc. Which one is more up to what's available in the area in which you're planning to travel. An opinion at a German cancer/research center can most likely give you the best options available in Germany.
I know that's not the answer you want but it's not possible to guess what drug will come out on top of treatments. I wish you and your dad well.
Janine
Reply # - September 11, 2015, 10:03 AM
Thank you Janine, I will
Thank you Janine, I will search on the internet.
I have already started to contact all hospitals who already have immunotherapy for squamous.
Jelena