Anyone ever had KRAS testing?

cjf2006
cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had my second opinion consultation last week at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. The dr I saw said I should not take oxaliplatin due to my neuropathy. As for Erbitux, she is having my pathology slides tested for KRAS mutations. Evidently it has been discovered that those with the mutations get no benefit from Erbitux. Meanwhile, I am receiving no treatments, which is not a happy thought for me, since the cancer always grows when I am not getting treatments.

Comments

  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #2
    about to
    I am about to have KRAS testing -- before possibly starting Erbitux. Yes, my oncologist said the same thing. People who have the KRAS mutation will not respond to Erbitux. I'm doing some reading on this now. One thing I read said about 40% of people who have been tested had the mutation. Fingers crossed for you and me!
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #3
    taraHK said:

    about to
    I am about to have KRAS testing -- before possibly starting Erbitux. Yes, my oncologist said the same thing. People who have the KRAS mutation will not respond to Erbitux. I'm doing some reading on this now. One thing I read said about 40% of people who have been tested had the mutation. Fingers crossed for you and me!

    The testing
    I had a friend who was told the same thing about the gene mutation, they started her on erbitux while waiting for the test results and then continued because she tolerated it very well - it didn't work, so I guess the genetic testing is quite valid. She had lung not colon cancer but I gather the results are the same.
  • KFalvey
    KFalvey Member Posts: 118 Member
    #4
    Anyone ever had KRAS testing?
    I had this test done last December when they wanted me to take Erbitux after my last surgery. I do have KRAS mutation, so I couldn't take it. The test cost $4500. and so far is not covered by my insurance. I hope your doctor checked with your insurance to see if it is covered first. I am appealing the claim. Good Luck, I hope you don't have the mutation. It usually means the cancer is a more aggressive type.
    Kandy
  • pf78248
    pf78248 Member Posts: 209
    #5
    KRAS Mutation and Erbitux
    My husband David was diagnosed with an aggressive stage III colon cancer and had surgery in April and began a chemo regiment the next month. His doctor suggested a clinical trial that added Erbitux to the standard FOLFOX treatment. In fact, he had Erbitux every week for several weeks. Then the information came out about the KRAS mutation and David was tested for it. He was found to have the mutation and since his doctor was just about convinced he was allergic to the drug, he stopped it when the results came back. Good luck in your testing and treatment. By the way, we haven't seen the bill yet so I have no idea on the cost for us. I do think insurance covered it, though. But he is through four of his six months of treatment and his first scans came back NED! So my very best wishes for you, too, as you battle this nasty disease. I've been so inspired by the people on this site that are so positive and supportive. What a great group!

    Priscilla
  • cjf2006
    cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
    #6
    KFalvey said:

    Anyone ever had KRAS testing?
    I had this test done last December when they wanted me to take Erbitux after my last surgery. I do have KRAS mutation, so I couldn't take it. The test cost $4500. and so far is not covered by my insurance. I hope your doctor checked with your insurance to see if it is covered first. I am appealing the claim. Good Luck, I hope you don't have the mutation. It usually means the cancer is a more aggressive type.
    Kandy

    insurance covers it
    I checked with our insurance program right away,and yes, they cover it. We have been blessed with good insurance through my husband's employer. I even have a case manager assigned to me who used yobe a cancer nurse. She has been great to talk to.
  • cjf2006
    cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
    #7
    pf78248 said:

    KRAS Mutation and Erbitux
    My husband David was diagnosed with an aggressive stage III colon cancer and had surgery in April and began a chemo regiment the next month. His doctor suggested a clinical trial that added Erbitux to the standard FOLFOX treatment. In fact, he had Erbitux every week for several weeks. Then the information came out about the KRAS mutation and David was tested for it. He was found to have the mutation and since his doctor was just about convinced he was allergic to the drug, he stopped it when the results came back. Good luck in your testing and treatment. By the way, we haven't seen the bill yet so I have no idea on the cost for us. I do think insurance covered it, though. But he is through four of his six months of treatment and his first scans came back NED! So my very best wishes for you, too, as you battle this nasty disease. I've been so inspired by the people on this site that are so positive and supportive. What a great group!

    Priscilla

    KRAS
    I am anxiously awaiting the results.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #8
    cjf2006 said:

    KRAS
    I am anxiously awaiting the results.

    how long for results?
    Do you know how long it will take to get the results? I read on the web somewhere that it can be done in one day (!) but I am also now waiting and the pathology lab said the results would be available in about a week. I'm hoping it's shorter! Waiting for test results is one of my least favorite things. Good luck with your wait - Tara
  • cjf2006
    cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
    #9
    taraHK said:

    how long for results?
    Do you know how long it will take to get the results? I read on the web somewhere that it can be done in one day (!) but I am also now waiting and the pathology lab said the results would be available in about a week. I'm hoping it's shorter! Waiting for test results is one of my least favorite things. Good luck with your wait - Tara

    wait
    I was told 2 to 3 weeks. It's been over almost 2 weeks since I saw the specialist. I suppose it all depends on when they got started on it and whether they had sufficient material to work with (that was a concern the doctor brought up). I don't undertand why it should take so long. Paperwork probably.
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #10
    HUH?
    cjf2006 -

    OK... I'm a KRAS Test Dummy... what is it?

    - SpongeBob
  • cjf2006
    cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
    #11
    spongebob said:

    HUH?
    cjf2006 -

    OK... I'm a KRAS Test Dummy... what is it?

    - SpongeBob

    I'm not an expert
    My understanding is that some of us with colon cancer might have a particular mutation that renders Erbitux useless. 40% or so have this mutation. The specialist I consulted with said they used to do EGFR testing for Erbitux but found it wasn't very reliable.

    So how about that, not all colorectal cancer is equal. Cancer is like some dark, mysterious alien in an old Star Trek movie. It gobbles up torpedoes, changes form, uses a Klingon cloak of invisibility, spreads its ugly tentacles around your ship and strikes hard when you least expect it. Then it sets its sights on destroying planet Earth. Where are Captain Kirk, Scotty, and especially Dr. McCoy, when you need them?
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #12
    cjf2006 said:

    I'm not an expert
    My understanding is that some of us with colon cancer might have a particular mutation that renders Erbitux useless. 40% or so have this mutation. The specialist I consulted with said they used to do EGFR testing for Erbitux but found it wasn't very reliable.

    So how about that, not all colorectal cancer is equal. Cancer is like some dark, mysterious alien in an old Star Trek movie. It gobbles up torpedoes, changes form, uses a Klingon cloak of invisibility, spreads its ugly tentacles around your ship and strikes hard when you least expect it. Then it sets its sights on destroying planet Earth. Where are Captain Kirk, Scotty, and especially Dr. McCoy, when you need them?

    Give me TRIBBLES any day!

    Give me TRIBBLES any day!
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #13
    got my results - have the mutation
    Got the results of my KRAS test yesterday. I have the mutation, so cannot take Erbitux. Darnit. I'm meeting with my doc tomorrow to discuss other options.....Any news yet on your results, cjf? Fingers crossed for you. Tara
  • cjf2006
    cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
    #14
    taraHK said:

    got my results - have the mutation
    Got the results of my KRAS test yesterday. I have the mutation, so cannot take Erbitux. Darnit. I'm meeting with my doc tomorrow to discuss other options.....Any news yet on your results, cjf? Fingers crossed for you. Tara

    I saw my onc today because I hadn't been feeling well. She gave me the update. The results are not in. Maybe by the end of the week. She said it is not unusual for this genetic testing to take a while. Also, they had to send it to New York. I'm in TN. Since I already know I have an aggressive cancer, I am not expecting a good report.

    Is your dr suggesting any other treatment?

Discussion Boards