Re: Treatment balancing question

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen,

I suppose to answer your question would require a study comparing FRx4 to FRx6 -

and I'm not aware that such a study has been done.

Here's a report on FRx6 (concurrent R vs. sequential)

http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=60434

See also for a report on potential benefit of achieving MRD-negative status

(which I think needs validation in a randomized study)

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/23/13/2884.full which I think requires PCR

testing to confirm.

All the best,

Karl

[Guest guest]

You loose the B-cell surface protein CD20, that Rituxan uses as a target

with each use. While it returns to some extent over time, it may also be a

consideration

for future treatment...

~chris

>

> I posted a couple of weeks ago about a decision as to whether to stop at four

treatments of FR since I had a complete (clinical) response at the end of the

second treatment. I

[Guest guest]

Kathleen - mnay folks believe that if you have responded well to four

cycles, the downside of taking two money outweighs the advantages of

stopping.

In a message dated 2/10/2011 8:57:31 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

kathleenbeattie@... writes:

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a decision as to whether to stop at

four treatments of FR since I had a complete (clinical) response at the end

of the second treatment. I weighed in with my hematologist today who said

that only a small percentage of patients who respond like I have, benefit

past the fourth treatment and that in balancing the potential long term immune

system hit against the questionable benefit of more treatment, he felt

that I should stop at four. We are going to do a four color flow cytometry and

that may tip the scales. I am wondering, but forgot to ask, whether his

statement about the questionable benefit of the last two treatments is

supported by studies or just his gut and experience. He is a leukemia

specialist

at a medical research center, but not a CLL specialist. He does consult

with Dr. Byrd but don’t think that this came from him. I’d appreciate any

comments, especially from the medical advisors.

Kathleen Beattie

Little Rock, Ar