ABT-188 Journey Continues

As noted before, I'm in a clinical trial with a drug called ABT-188 (Veliparib) which is in a class of drugs called PARP Inhibitors. It's only relevant to men with Prostate Cancer who also have the BRCA-2 gene mutation.

After casodex failed last year, I was about to start XTandi when I found the clinical trial. The combo of ABT-188 and Lupron has kept my PSA hovering around 2.0 for the past 10 months. I also have very few side effects, largely fatigue which I sleep off. Considering two and a half years ago my PSA was in the thousands and my skeleton was damaged, this seems like a minor miracle.

I had a frank discussion with the onco in charge about why PARP Inhibitors, which are doing wonders for women with breast cancer, doesn't have more of a presence in the PCa world and why is it taking so long for the FDA to take note of this. After all, 10 months of progression-free survival with almost no side effects with possibly another year ahead of me is no small thing. He said he felt it would take patient advocates screaming and yelling in Washington to make some progress.

The smallest thought about a BRCA/PCa group of men came into my mind. At least a blog raising awareness of the therapy and the need for more action. Of course many of you could have the gene mutation and not know it.

PARP Inhibitors can put one more powerful bullet into the gun for PCa men of all stages.

Always good to get an update from you and such positive news is wonderful. Your success with this drug is remarkable! My sister died of breast cancer at a young age and I've always wondered if I carry that BRCa gene. Thank you for being in the frontline of experimental drug therapies.

From my experience there is very little awareness in the US of the role of BRCA and the potential role of PARP inhibitors in PC. I spoke with two of the more highly recommended docs about this and neither was aware of the research that implied that a BRCA+ patient might warrant different treatment, though they did know that BRCA+ implies a more aggressive disease.

I would encourage anyone whose family medical history and ethnic background makes this plausible to be proactive in raising this with your doctor. What I was told when I met with the genetic counselor was that testing might be warranted if you are (a) of eastern european jewish descent and (b) have one or more first degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) who had breast or prostate cancer at an early age (pre-60 in men, pre-menopause in women). There is published research on the potential advantage of PARP for BRCA+ patients that you can find online and provide to any doc who needs to be informed.

Very good news Johnkeats! In my mind I pictured a huge group of all our Healing Well family with all thew other PC advocacy groups on the steps of the capitol.
We will be talking and meeting with Tony next week in FL, for sure!

Marie and Jim