IL 21 + anti PD 1 combo trial

shamrocklady
shamrocklady Member Posts: 20
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hello All!

This is a trial that I know is currently available at Yale Univ (where my dad will be going) though I don't know yet if we will be offered it or if he will qualify of course, but I am looking for some background info so I can be prepared.

First I've read a ton about IL-2, but barely anything on IL-21... does anyone know if IL-21 is used besides in clinical trials at this point? I've read a bit about it on google & pubmed. Does anyone here have experience using IL-21? All I've seen is that IL-21 can have similar flu like effects as IL-2 though I don't know if the sides effects are quite "as bad" as IL-2. Although both are cytokines, I do see they are quite different. I basically know nothing about IL-21 so any input would be much appreciated.

Also, I believe the anti PD 1, they list as BMS-936558. Is that nivolumab? Or a different anti PD-1?  

Here's the link to the trial http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01629758

Thanks so much!

Shamrock :)

Comments

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #2
    Yale trials

    I'm glad you had a positive experience by going to Yale. The immunological therapy trials are the way to go. Good for your dad. You need to know that several cancer centers told me there was nothing they could do to help me because of the extent of my disease progression. But Yale was much more optimistic. I feel pretty comfortable saying that of all our members here, I may be in the top few for health, fitness, and outlook thanks to Yale and their care. Good luck!

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #3
    foxhd said:

    Yale trials

    I'm glad you had a positive experience by going to Yale. The immunological therapy trials are the way to go. Good for your dad. You need to know that several cancer centers told me there was nothing they could do to help me because of the extent of my disease progression. But Yale was much more optimistic. I feel pretty comfortable saying that of all our members here, I may be in the top few for health, fitness, and outlook thanks to Yale and their care. Good luck!

    I am happy you BOTH found

    I am happy you BOTH found Yale!!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Darron
    Darron Member Posts: 310 Member
    #4
    Yes BMS-936558 is Nivolumab

    Yes, that is Nivolumab.

    I recently saw an article from my doctor that talked about how IL-2 and Nicolumab has not been explored And it has huge potential. I know nothing about IL-21

  • rook
    rook Member Posts: 7 Member
    #5
    Stand-alone IL-21 saw good

    Stand-alone IL-21 saw good efficacy in RCC:

    "Recombinant IL-21 (rIL-21) therapy resulted in objective responses in ~20% of melanoma and renal cell carcinoma patients."

    Combination studies of IL-21 + nivolumab were highly synergistic in mice:

    "Combination of both agents led to synergistic antitumor activity, with complete regressions (CR) in 7/10 mice and 99.9% median TGI (p=0.046)."

    http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/115394-132

    There is a substantial likelihood this trial will result in stunning regressions for a lucky 30-50% of participants.

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #6
    rook said:

    Stand-alone IL-21 saw good

    Stand-alone IL-21 saw good efficacy in RCC:

    "Recombinant IL-21 (rIL-21) therapy resulted in objective responses in ~20% of melanoma and renal cell carcinoma patients."

    Combination studies of IL-21 + nivolumab were highly synergistic in mice:

    "Combination of both agents led to synergistic antitumor activity, with complete regressions (CR) in 7/10 mice and 99.9% median TGI (p=0.046)."

    http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/115394-132

    There is a substantial likelihood this trial will result in stunning regressions for a lucky 30-50% of participants.

    So far

    the use of both drugs has done me wonders. I don't know how you could do both at the same time in a trial. I'm also happy with the order I got them. I'm amazed how good I feel. It makes me nervous thinking about it. I am so thankful for the care I'm getting. Everything has been done right. When I think of all the other things that could have been done or not done, I appreciate that I've gotten the surgery, tests and drugs that I have.

    When I started the nivolumab trial, there weren't any other regular posters recieving the drug. I started getting better quickly. It was hot news. Little by little more people have started recieving the drug and everyone seems to be doing well. It's so exciting. Personally I think I will be back on this drug sometime. My chances of living a long time are good.

    I also think that nivolumab is a far better first choice than IL-2. Especially since qualifying for IL-2 is restrictive because of cardiac risks. The nivolumab was essentially side effect free.

  • rook
    rook Member Posts: 7 Member
    #7
    foxhd said:

    So far

    the use of both drugs has done me wonders. I don't know how you could do both at the same time in a trial. I'm also happy with the order I got them. I'm amazed how good I feel. It makes me nervous thinking about it. I am so thankful for the care I'm getting. Everything has been done right. When I think of all the other things that could have been done or not done, I appreciate that I've gotten the surgery, tests and drugs that I have.

    When I started the nivolumab trial, there weren't any other regular posters recieving the drug. I started getting better quickly. It was hot news. Little by little more people have started recieving the drug and everyone seems to be doing well. It's so exciting. Personally I think I will be back on this drug sometime. My chances of living a long time are good.

    I also think that nivolumab is a far better first choice than IL-2. Especially since qualifying for IL-2 is restrictive because of cardiac risks. The nivolumab was essentially side effect free.

    foxhd,IL-2 and IL-21 are two

    foxhd,

    IL-2 and IL-21 are two different cytokines. The above study combines IL-21 with nivolumab, and is given at the same time.  I believe no one has yet tried to combine IL-2 (the drug you recently took) with a pd-1 inhibitor as it is extremely harsh, very expensive to administer, and the response rate is a very low 5%.

    Many people fail IL-2 then try PD-1 or vice versa. It is very rare to respond to both. The immunogenicity of your mets is incredible.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interleukin_21

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interleukin_2

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