Have a few questions??

[cbmilito]

Does anyone have experience with Parp Inhibitors??  My MIL Dr has suggested looking for some trials.  
My MIL was diagnosed in March 2008 had debulking surgery, since then been on chemo with two 3 mths breaks.  Each time the her CA125 would go all the way down to 8 but then creep back up to 60's by the time of her 3 mths check up.  She is now stopping a chemo that she is halfway thru as her numbers are not going down they started to lower but now have gone up.  So Dr then suggested Parp Inhibitor trial and she will have CT scan and then discuss some other options regarding chemo, I presume??  
I know she is platinum Resistant and was diagnosed as Stage 3C, she also said in the last 4 wks her CA125 went from 150 to 220...that sounds like alot to me, does anyone have advice for us??
Also, can she go back on any chemo drug she had success with in the past??  How much more can your body take chemo wise, do you not have to rest at some point??  she is doing well health wise but she did weaken her heart muscles with taking one of the drugs.
Sorry so many questions, its all rather overwhelming..she looks great and is staying positive and keeping as healthy as possible.....Thanks to everyone....and bless you all.

[jr1971]

One thing that I didn't mention is that being platimun resistant does not mean that your MIL would not have benefit from other platinum drugs. My wife is resistant to Taxol and is now taking Oxaliplatin (along with 5-FU and Avastin) and it is working for her. My wife has Mucinous type and these are very similar to bowel cancers. This combination of drugs is used mainly for bowel patients.

Oxaliplatin is a platinum based drug, but her oncologist explained that in combination with 5-FU it works in a slightly different way so some people who are Taxol resistant can use it successfully.

If she has a Mucinous tumor then this combination may work for her too.

I hope you find a good treatment that works for your MIL.

Jon

[cbmilito]

Thank you for giving me some info on PARP.

I do not know what type of tumor she has and also do not know whether she has a BRCA mutation, but thank you I will find out and hopefully we can find a trial near by and it is successful!!

I think with her being platinum resistant it reduces the drugs available somewhat but her Dr did say she has options, so we are waiting to meet to hear what those would be.  The main thing is she looks and feels good and is staying pretty healthy so far.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.  And I hope that you are able to stay strong and positive through whatever this awful disease throws at you.

Many Thanks,
Charlotte

[jr1971]

Hi there.

I am glad to hear you MIL is staying positive through this.. it is tough.

As far as I know PARP inhibitors are a very promising treatment and they are definately worth looking into. They are really only useful though in people who are BRCA positive. If your MIL is not BRCA positive then they are unlikely to have much value.

PARP is a protien that repairs damaged cells. If you have a BRCA mutation then this repair mechanism allows mutated cells to replicate. If you stop PARP from working, these mutated cells become so damaged that they can no longer replicate. So by inhibiting the action of PARP you are effectively causing mutated cells to die.

What you can take as far as Chemo goes is really down to your MIL and her doctors, everyone is a little different I think. The body does need time to repair the damaged bone marrow, gut flora etc that chemo affects and her medical tests, blood tests and general well-being is your best guide.

Do you know what type of tumor your MIL has (Serous, Clear Cell, Mucinous etc.)?

Good luck.