Cancer clinical trial

[maxs_mommy]

My vet linked up to a cancer clinical trial at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMED) recently and I clicked through the article. The trial is for a methodology that doesn't use chemo or radiation, instead injecting an abx directly into the tumor. It'll be intended for humans but they're doing preliminary studies on dogs...at no charge. I'm trying to get Max enrolled but of course they want biopsy pathology which I never did because I assumed we'd do the palliative route. So tomorrow he's going back to the dental specialist for a biopsy with a hopeful quick pathology report so I can get Max enrolled. The dogs they've treated to date have had remarkable recoveries, even when there's metastisis so I have a glimmer of hope.

Several trials have been sent over from the vet but most were travel or cost prohibitive, this one is local so, since we have nothing to lose we're going for it. Send good biopsy vibes for tomorrow and cross your crossables for this study, it would be amazing if it worked. I'd probably cry and kiss someone.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/ne ... emotherapy

[JudyL]

Good thoughts coming your way. Hope all goes well tomorrow!

[SherriA]

This sounds promising! Fingers crossed!

[connie]

Oh, I hope it works out that he can participate in the trial -- it sounds interesting and promising!

[maxs_mommy]

He's home and sleeping. No eating yet and I won't relax until he does. Now I'm antsy for the pathology results which could be 5-10 days and I'm kicking myself for having to do (and pay for) anesthesia twice. His vet sent his records over today and followed up with the clinical trial team so here's hoping!

[EllaBella]

I hope he's eligible and gets to be enrolled and the treatment is successful for him! Fingers crossed

[connie]

When will you be notified if he's in?

[maxs_mommy]

I'm working on the biopsy and then send them the results. It doesn't sound like they're turning many away but I won't know for a week at least.

[connie]

Oh cool, so it's meeting criteria rather than getting one of a limited number of slots? I'm sorry Max meets the criteria, but it would be cool to have him in the trial, could be informative at worst and helpful at best. Fingers crossed.

[maxs_mommy]

It is more about criteria I think. I got the biopsy report back and it is malignant (and metastatic) melanoma, which comes as no surprise. I hope to hear from the PI's assistant tomorrow about whether he's accepted into the trial or not.

[maxs_mommy]

So I think we're in the trial. I got the release paperwork last week and sent it over tonight (stupid holiday brain on my part). The drugs they're using are Veresimod, which is a new immunotherapy and HylaPlat, which is platininum based chemo injected directly into the tumor. No official start date yet but we'll see!
Here's a short PR piece KU did on the drugs and trial
http://www.kumc.edu/news-listing-page/i ... mo-ii.html

[connie]

Glad you got in!

[JudyL]

Yes! Glad he's in the trial!

[emmas_mom]

I'm glad you are in the trial, and look forward to hearing how it goes.

[whiteboxerboy]

Excellent!

Keep us posted how it goes.

[maxs_mommy]

Pre-study blood work is next Tuesday and then I'm told they'll reach out about the study. A lot of hurry up and wait.

[maxs_mommy]

Putting this here so it's all in one place. As long as the bloodwork comes back where the study wants, Max's first treatment will be on the 20th. I'm excited because this has huge promise for dogs (and people) but nervous too. Second guessing it all but I really want to try for him.

[Jen]

This is fascinating. I hope it’s successful for so many reasons, not the least Max!

[maxs_mommy]

Minor setback, his white blood count and neutrophils are elevated. WBC are at the top end of the range and neutrophils are about 1000 pts out of range with a reference of 300-1600. So we do a week of cephalexin and recheck and go from there. The chemo is contraindicated for high WBC.

[emmas_mom]

Aw, I'm sorry. I hope it is just a temporary and mild infection causing the elevated rates, and all will be well on the recheck.

[SherriA]

Damn! I hope those numbers get into line quickly.

[maxs_mommy]

Blood work draw was today. Should know if his numbers are better tomorrow or Monday. If they are then we do a treatment on Wednesday.

[MaisyPancakes]

Just catching up here again—sending OK WBC/neutrophils vibes! Come on blood! Behave!

[maxs_mommy]

Treatment tomorrow at 1030 and I'm second guessing myself but we're doing it. His vet and I agreed that we'll monitor his life quality closely. I'm not going to make his life go to hell to be in a study but I'm hoping for benefits to slow the cancer and give him some stamina and pep back. He's really been slowing down lately and I'm not ready!

[SherriA]

Sending all the good thoughts for you and Max! Fingers crossed that this does everything you're hoping and there are no negative side effects.

[maxs_mommy]

So we had treatment today and the vets said he did well. When we arrived they gave Max cerenia by sub-q injection then the actual treatment after that. He was groggy but ambulatory on the way home because they sedated him slightly to inject into the mouth tumor. The clinic was super nice and even came to the car to do the cerenia injection. Apparently some communication got garbled because they did the cerenia then told me they needed him back in an hour. I was told by the PI that the appointment would be from 10:30-1 so I showed up at 10:30. So Max and I putzed around and came back at 11:30 and he was done by 12:50. Ok, so now I know.

I was told the most common side effect was nausea and he was/is nauseated. He ate dinner but it was the freeze dried raw nuggets instead of the fresh raw he normally eats and he ate a mashed up egg and applesauce and drank water normally. I have some primal bone broth I got as a freebie that I'm thawing to see if he'll drink some. I'm sure his mouth hurts from the injection plus the smells of raw probably don't help his nausea. I am a little concerned because he is abnormally lethargic tonight so I'm going to call the vet in the morning to discuss. I did check pulse, breathing rate and gum color rebound along with reflexes and all seems normal so I'm hoping this is just a recovery sleep. He's also eliminated normally and can wander around, he'd just rather sleep.

[connie]

Hoping it's a recovery sleep, and he's feeling better tomorrow.

Sander loved rice pudding when he couldn't bear the smell or taste of his usual raw or other food. Also soft-boiled egg on wheat toast.

[maxs_mommy]

I called the vet today and left a voicemail and the vet got back to me. Apparently they were just supposed to give light, quick sedation but had to intubate and gas instead because of where they wanted to inject the chemo. He was likely sleeping off the gas. Also the cerenia can cause lethargy. The communication lack is sorely frustrating and the vet did apologize for it from yesterday (I never saw the vet, only techs because they had clients) but I feel like I should have known he was more heavily sedated than expected. The vet also made a note to give less gas next time if they went that route. It makes me appreciate my vet more every time I go to this new clinic.

[connie]

Grrrrr, that's annoying!

How is he today?

[maxs_mommy]

Better. He's drooling, which is unlike him and his energy was low but has perked up a bit so I think he's rebounding.