Has your OC's DNA been sequenced?

seatown
seatown Member Posts: 261 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1

Met with the gyn/onc surgeon yesterday to discuss what comes next, after I had a bad reaction to Doxil, new tumors were discovered, & my CA125 was not going down much. So Gemzar is next for me. The whole story is here:

http://CaringBridge.org/visit/CaroleSeaton  

But what I wanted to know is this: have any of you had your cancer's DNA sequenced? If so, did it provide useful info? Sorry I missed it if you've already reported on this. And if you've had Gemzar--remind me how you did on it. Thanks!

Comments

  • scatsm
    scatsm Member Posts: 296 Member
    #2
    I kept my hair!

    It thinned on top but is getting thicker again now that Im done.

    I was on carbo/gemzar/avastin so i'm not sure which did what. I did have a reaction to my second gemzar only infusion, was hospitalized for a few days and then had the infusion while hospitalized. I needed steroids, ativan and benadryl each time after that. Apparently, this was a rare reaction.

    From what little I know about DNA sequencing, it appears that while we have the technology to analyze the DNA, we don't have enough drugs to treat the results of the sequencing. My guess is that this is an ever evolving situation, and hopfully you can benefit from it.

    All the very best,

    Susan

  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #3
    scatsm said:

    I kept my hair!

    It thinned on top but is getting thicker again now that Im done.

    I was on carbo/gemzar/avastin so i'm not sure which did what. I did have a reaction to my second gemzar only infusion, was hospitalized for a few days and then had the infusion while hospitalized. I needed steroids, ativan and benadryl each time after that. Apparently, this was a rare reaction.

    From what little I know about DNA sequencing, it appears that while we have the technology to analyze the DNA, we don't have enough drugs to treat the results of the sequencing. My guess is that this is an ever evolving situation, and hopfully you can benefit from it.

    All the very best,

    Susan

    Hi Carole

    I'm sorry that Doxil did not do the job for you.  To be honest, I've never heard of DNA sequencing.  I would be interested in learning/reading more about it.  I don't have any personal experience with Gemzar but I'm praying that it kicks your cancer's butt to the curb!

    Warm hugs,

    Kelly

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    #4
    Kind of...

    Last year I got all my paperwork organized for the DNA blueprint by Clearity Foundation. They needed 3 fresh cores of tumor tissue, I needed 3 cores for the clinical trial and the radiologist performing the biopsy for safety reasons refused to remove more than 3 cores in total, so I ended up not proceeding with Clearity.

    Clovis Oncology did my DNA blueprint from the 3 cores, but I was forced to sign my rights to this info away, as trial data belongs to the trial sponsor.

    My archival tumor tissue from the original hysterectomy was tested as part of a Canadian "IMPACT" genome study, and found germline BRCA1+ mutation (I already had BRCA test 2 years ago), somatic BRCA1+ and TP53 mutation. The same tumor tissue tested in the States as part of the MK-1175 inhibitor trial auditions, didn't find TP53 mutation. Go figure.

    Susan brings up the point I've heard from oncologists before: testing could be done, theoretically it is interesting, but usefulness of the test result is limited by the small number of available drugs.

    Carole, I hope you get extra good results on Gemzar. I haven't had it myself but I hear that it is relatively mild compared to other $hit that gets pumped into our veins.

    Hugs,

    Alexandra

Discussion Boards