Update on FeistyD/ Anti-PD-1 trial - 1249447

tikicat
Posts:28

I have been on the Merck MK 3475 anti-PD-1 trial for 5 months now. My first set of scans in August showed 69% shrinkage of the two primary tumors in my left lung, with continued shrinkage in the October scans. So far they have shrunk to 0.7cm X 1.8cm and 1.4 X 1.5. A year ago they were about 4 X 3 cm. My brain MRIs have been normal. No new mets, other spots are stable. Best of all, I have had NO side effects- no fatigue, diarrhea, breathing problems, hair loss, nausea, nothing! I feel very fortunate to be in this trial. I sincerely hope this type of drug, immunotherapy, turns out to be a successful type of treatment and possibly cure for more of us in the cancer community!

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Reply # - October 24, 2012, 06:00 PM

sawcmw
Posts: 41

That is terrific news FeistyD!

Are you in the phase I trial or have they now progressed to phase II or III? We tried to get my wife enrolled the anti PD-1 trial but by the time we met with Dr. Brahmer at John Hopkins her stage IV NSCLC had regressed so much that her tumors were only measurable in low mm.

Hopefully this trial will result in the drug that will become the gold standard for immunotherapy. Thanks for the update.

Reply # - October 24, 2012, 06:30 PM

double trouble
Posts: 573

That is a wonderful report, FeistyD! Thank you for sharing. It's so great to hear good news. I wish you continued success, and on behalf of the entire cancer community, thank you for participating in a trial.
Debra

Reply # - October 24, 2012, 06:37 PM

tikicat
Posts: 28

I am in the Phase I trial of this Merck drug. I don't believe it has progressed to Phase II or III yet. The other trials of anti-PD-1 (BMS) may have. I know at my clinic they opened a new arm of the trial recently (combined with chemotherapy).

Reply # - October 25, 2012, 10:45 AM

catdander
Posts:

Oh FeistyD that is wonderful news! For you and for everyone who may someday benefit similarly. Thank you for helping to progress the field of lung cancer.
Here's to continued good news,
Janine

Reply # - October 25, 2012, 05:37 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

That's really terrific news, both because it shows the efficacy of this novel approach, and because it gives us a hint of what might be a great option for someone with a rare spindle cell carcinoma, which is a situation where we haven't had good any good answers.

-Dr. West

Reply # - October 25, 2012, 08:33 PM

tikicat
Posts: 28

Thanks, everybody. I was feeling pretty hopeless a year ago. I guess with anti-PD-1 therapy, it doesn't seem to matter if my cancer is called "spindle-cell" or "squamous" or whatever. What's important is that my tumors express the PD-L1 ligand (whatever that is), which seems to be key to responding to the drug. Look how much I have learned! A year ago I had no concept of any of this stuff.

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