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gdpawel
Senior User
Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 123
Location: Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:29 am Post subject: Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy |
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Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy, a treatment in which anti-cancer drugs are put directly into the abdominal cavity through a thin tube, has been trying to achieve progress by changing the method of drug delivery.
A Gynaecological Oncology Group study has been reported in the January 5th edition of The New England Journal of Medicine, which studied its impact with over four hundred women with stage three disease, optimally debulked and randomized to intra-peritoneal or intravenous drug therapy.
Ovarian cancer patients are now living longer than they did in the past, but this is almost certainly owing to better and more aggressive surgery. This study could be an indication of the "right chemotherapy," but using the "wrong drugs."
The hallmark of cancer is heterogeneity. Not just many types of cancer (ovarian, breast, lung, colon, etc.), but many subtypes of cancer within a given type. Many types of ovarian cancer. Many types of breast cancer. Many types of lung cancer, etc. The biologies are very different and the response to given drugs is very different.
The hallmark of cancer treatment is heterogeneity. There are currently over 100 FDA approved cancer drugs, with hundreds more in the pipeline. All of these drugs tend to be partially effective, and even then, in only a minority of cases, and often for only a short duration of time.
The single most neglected area of cancer research has been the development of methods and technologies to be "matchmakers" between individual cancer with individual cancer treatment.
The single most neglected area of cancer treatment has been the unwillingness to utilize, or even study, the matchmaker technologies which have already been developed and which are already available. These technologies involve studies of cancer cell responses to drug exposure in cell culture systems, "outside" of the patient's body, before they are put "into" the patient's body.
With only 42% of the women being able to finished the rather arduous trial, perhaps abdominal chemo is the right therapy, but they were using the wrong drugs? Test the tumor first! |
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Sharon
Regular
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Posts: 35
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: IP |
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How can you test for the right chemo drugs to be given IP? Does the oncotyping test work? Is there anything besides Taxol and Cisplatin? I have a friend who is getting both IV and IP of the above combination. She was diagnosed two years ago. Had surgery and chemo. Mets this past fall with another surgery. She has stage 111 She is 55 years old. Does the CA-125 go down with treatment? Hers is hovering around 290.
_________________
DX: October, 2004,age 59
Lumpectomy with Sentinel node
Sentinel node + with 5mm lesion
ER/PR +
HER2 -
Invasive Ductal with 8mm primary lesion
Dose Dense AC x 4 with Taxol x4
Radiation x 6weeks |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3790
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy |
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Sharon, I am very sorry about your friends cancer. Yes, her CA-125 should go down. Has she been on chemo for 2 years already or did she start the chemo this fall?
You and your friend are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Sharon
Regular
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Posts: 35
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: IP |
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Thank you for your response. I had gotten different answers from different sources. Some felt that the Ca125 wouldn't go down until the treatment was completed. They felt that it was causing inflammation and irritation to the tissue which was contributing to the elevation. Some oncology nurses said it should go down and if it doesn't they change the treatment. My friends cancer was "slow growing" which may mean it isn't affected by the chemo so much. It is such an arduous treatment tht the thought of it being ineffective is unacceptable. This is a journey between faith and science. She had surgery 2 years ago...with IV chemo. Then this summer her Ca 125 started going back up. She had another exp. lap and two small tumors were removed. She had a the IP port put in and then started the IV and IP chemo. She is on round 4 now.
_________________
DX: October, 2004,age 59
Lumpectomy with Sentinel node
Sentinel node + with 5mm lesion
ER/PR +
HER2 -
Invasive Ductal with 8mm primary lesion
Dose Dense AC x 4 with Taxol x4
Radiation x 6weeks |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3790
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:01 am Post subject: Re: Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy |
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Sharon, as far as I can tell, the oncology nurse has the right information. The CA-125 is produced by cancerous cells and if the chemotherapy is doing its job those cells will be dying and your friend's CA-125 should be dropping. I imagine it takes a while to notice a significant change... after all, the chemotherapy does take time to start working.
It is a journey between faith and science. It is a very hard journey that all of us wish no one had to take. But it is a journey that we do not need to take alone. Unfortunately for you, the Ovarian Cancer Forum does not have too many active members. Hopefully, someone who knows more about this cancer will reply to you soon.
Regards.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Sharon
Regular
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Posts: 35
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: IP Chemo |
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Hi Jim:
You are correct about fewer people responding on the ovarian site. The breast cancer site is very active..probably related to the higher incidence. However, it appears many are reading, on the ovarian site just not responding. I appreciate your response.
January is my least favorite month of the year....It is long and dark....and money is short. However, spring is beginning to bud just around the corner. Keep the faith....and get some sleep....this site can wait for dawn. Sharon
_________________
DX: October, 2004,age 59
Lumpectomy with Sentinel node
Sentinel node + with 5mm lesion
ER/PR +
HER2 -
Invasive Ductal with 8mm primary lesion
Dose Dense AC x 4 with Taxol x4
Radiation x 6weeks |
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Robinflamingo
Regular
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 25
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy |
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Sorry I haven't replied sooner - for months on end I was the only regular, and I got out of the habit of checking this site.
I am on Carbo and Taxol. It is only one of many combinations used for Ovarian Cancer - and while everyone is different, this is my second time around with this protocol, so I have some anecdotal experience that might be worth something.
First time through, my CA125 started at 532 and literally went down by half every round of chemo. (532, 251, 197, 72, 23, 15, 5, 5, 7) Then, during what was a ten month remission, my numbers were 8, 4, 11, 10, 6, 10, 11, 12, 22, 33. I've started chemo again two weeks ago, and have round two at the end of this week. They found a 3.5 cm tumor on the last CT scan, so we begin again.
It's really different this time, too. I'm having more side effects, and after only one round, I'm going bald very rapidly. So, I'm back. Sorry I wasn't here earlier 
In conclusion, CA125 counts should go down. There are several different protocols out there. There are some message boards that are strictly ovarian cancer, and there are some very good support sites out there too.
Please post again. I'll try to get here more often 
_________________
Forget regret - or life is yours to miss. -Rent |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3790
Location: Tennessee
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Sharon
Regular
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Posts: 35
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject: ovarian cancer and C 125 |
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Hi Robin: Thanks for responding and welcome back....so sorry to hear you are in treatment again..I think of this as a chronic disease. My friend just had to have a blood transfusion for anemia. She has lost most of her eyebrows and eyelashes. She has one more round to go...week 1 IV and IP chemo and week 2 IP chemo..She is more than ready to be done. The Ca 125 hasn't dropped much. I don't ask anymore.
Every woman going through this treatment deserves a medal of honor !!!!
My best to you. hugs, Sharon
_________________
DX: October, 2004,age 59
Lumpectomy with Sentinel node
Sentinel node + with 5mm lesion
ER/PR +
HER2 -
Invasive Ductal with 8mm primary lesion
Dose Dense AC x 4 with Taxol x4
Radiation x 6weeks |
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