First treatment coming up (ABT 263?)

[Guest guest]

Hello folks,

I would appreciate input on the " ABT-263 plus High-Dose

Retuximab or High-Dose Retux only " clinical trial as a first

line of treatment.

I've been on W & W since 2004 with Dr. Kipps and feel very

fortunate to have gone that long (Unmutated, 65% Zap 70+,

but with 13q14). I'm definitely feeling a much lower energy

level these days.

In view of the promising treatments coming along, I'd like

to avoid using chemo agents this first time around to

preserve as much health as possible. I would greatly

appreciate people's thoughts on this and to hear if anyone

is has participated in this trial.

Thanks very much.

Sharon

The numbers:

WBC=84, 90% lymphocytes, 10% neuts, 14.2% hemoglobin,

161 platelets, 2.5 B2M, Low IG's, 4.92 RBC.

Growing nodes; spleen @ 6 cm, liver @ 14 cm.

[Guest guest]

ABT-263 is a very interesting molecule that will hopefully

become an important part of CLL treatment in the future,

along with PCI-32765 and CAL-101. ABT-263 was tested first,

but due to " issues " with the company, its development has

been really slow. The only toxicity that is routinely seen

is thrombocytopenia, which is due to shortened platelet

survival. As a result, the body does " adapt " to it.

It is important to remember that while the drug is

discontinued abruptly at the end of the trial, there should

not be any rebound, as the vast majority of the cells will

have been eliminated by then. The " flares " that we are

seeing are really in those who have not achieved near

complete resolution of the disease.

Rick Furman, MD

Ron wrote:

/message/16045

Sharon wrote:

/message/16043

[Guest guest]

I have been on ABT-263 over two years now. I did Rituxan

once a week for 4 weeks two years ago. I just recently had

a bmb which showed 20% CLL, this was down from 30% a year

ago. So, the ABT has continued to work for me. I have no

side effects since it changed to pill form. How long will

it work? Your guess is as good as mine. They are letting

me continue on the drug for as long as it works.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Lori,

I assume you are in a study. Could you share the NCT number

so that we can look at it on clinicaltrials.gov ? And where

are you getting treatment?

All the best,

Lynn

[Guest guest]

Lori:

Thanks for sharing your information; it's quite encouraging.

I agree with Lynn that we'd like to know more about your

treatment situation. If it is a trial, which one? I think

the trial I'm considering is ABT4710n.

Also, can you share any of your beginning and current stats,

beyond the BMB?

Ron:

Can you tell us why you feel these options aren't right for

you?

Thanks, again. Sharon

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the clarification, Dr. Furman.

How does the body adapt to thrombocytopenia? Very

interesting. I'm wondering because I'm noticing that

I am definitely bruising more easily and my platelets

are currently at 236 (they were 160 in July).

Thanks, again.

Sharon

Dr. Furman wrote:

/message/16046