Monday’s meeting ended up giving us an overview of the kinds of studies that might be available and some information about how the process goes. Dr Lakhani is keen to start the next thing very soon, and we expect to hear later this week or early next, what specific option(s) might be available in the very near term.
That’s the main news: We are still waiting for details. You can stop here if you aren’t interested in my summary of our little tutorial on possible treatment types.
We probably have some more studying to do in the next little while, so I might not have all of the details below exactly correct, but here’s my summary.
The most likely type of treatment to be effective would be a targeted drug therapy. Qualifying for that sort of trial requires that the cancer cells have a targetable mutation, so samples are being sent off for genotyping. Genotyping will likely take longer than Dr Lakhani wants to wait to get started, so this is unlikely to be the first thing we try.
Immunotherapy options try to trigger your immune system to fight the cancer — like it does for most people for most cancer types. These have been quite successful for a number of cancers, but the first generation of immunotherapies have been less effective for colon cancer. There are a number of second generation immunotherapies in clinical trials right now. They typically work by inhibiting the part of the T cell mechanism that serves as a brake to keep from attacking too many things, or by encouraging the mechanisms that put cells in “attack mode”. These have great names like “natural killer cells”. So basically either easing up on the brakes or pressing harder on the gas pedal. Some treatments actually do both at once.
The third type of treatment uses antibody drug conjugates to help target chemotherapy just to the cancer cells. If I understand correctly, these are similar to some of the chemotherapy drugs Penny has had, but but modified so that they don’t really do anything except to the cancer. I’m guessing (but didn’t ask this directly) that this allows for delivery of more or a more potent version of the drug, since you don’t have to balance as much the negative effects of the drug on non-cancer cells.
There is actually a fourth option. We could return to one of the standard treatments while continuing to wait for the right clinical trial option. That will depend on what clinical trial options are available when.
We’ll let you know when we know more. But I expect some treatment will begin in the next 2-3 weeks, possibly sooner.
Comments
Dave and Liz Sherry: Praying for the Holy Spirit's guiding hand in the decisions that you have ahead. Praying for the blessings of peace and devine healing! Love to Penny!!
Karen Ludema: Praying for continued healing and clarity/discernment for the next course of action. You guys are in my thoughts and on my heart. ❤️
Sandra Kay Navis: Praying for discernment for you and for the medical team helping you!
Paige Munson: Uncle Randy - as an ONC nurse i think you did a pretty good job summarizing your treatment options! I'll be praying for guidance for your cancer team in providing you with the next steps. Praying for you all in this waiting game and in the decision time. Hugs - Paige
Susan Norman: I'm grateful that you guys have the sciency brains to digest this information! I join in the prayer for a clear "next step".
Mary Hulst: Amen to what Alisa wrote!
Alisa Tigchelaar: Praying right now that the right "first thing" to try becomes clear, and that this treatment can go forward very soon, Penny and Randy.
Robert Roskamp: Prayers for the Holy Spirit to guide you, while giving you confidence your Father is by your side every step !