About four months ago I had several chunks of my tumor sent off to a new lab for a detailed genetic and protein expressive oncotyping. This is new technology and the lab doing this technically isn't open yet. A buddy I went to grad school with sold them some of the diagnostic equipment they use. He got my samples and they were used to calibrate and test the equipment. This technology is not currently covered by insurance and is a pay for service lab. A complete test I'm told runs about $20,000. I got a free oncotyping out of the deal. The results came in today, my oncologist called me immediately. I have never heard any doctor so happy. Not necessarily for me but for all cancer patients. He said this test is going to change the way cancer is treated until a cure is available. He was also happy for me.
This new lab checks for and tests any over expressed proteins and all genetic abnormalities. This doesn't sound like such a novel idea, but here's the catch. They check for all abnormalites in relation to all cancers. For instance, I knew I was KRAS mutated because they checked, they had also checked for a couple of other colon cancer mutations. The only thing this did was eliminate possible treatments. This new lab recommends treatments based on all abnormalities. Not only does it recommend treatments, it also gives probabilities for positive responses to the treatment. It recommends probable combinations and treatment durations. I do not have the specifics, I will get them on monday. The report is fifty pages long and I will find a way to post it online. I have an old website that I haven't used in years. I think it is still active, if not I will reactivate it and provide a link, but this is what I know.
For the time being, my cancer is considered very unique. It may turn out to be entirely ordinary once other folks get tested but for now my cancer is unique. My cancer does possess genetic abnormalities consistent with colon cancer, but it is more consistent with breast cancer and even more consistent with renal "kidney" cancer. There was a 75% chance that I have a positive response to colon cancer treatment, but there is an 80% chance I have a positive response to breast cancer treatment, and a 97% chance I have a positive response to renal cancer treatment. I also have a better than 50% for a lymphoma treatment and another treatment that I can't remember the name of, it was long and I had never heard of it.
This test also checks for protein expressions and recommends all know inhibitors, approved or in the works. There are 14 protein inhibitors that have between a 65 and 91 % chance of having a positive response.
By the way, I am not KRAS mutant. So I should respond to erbitux, as it turns out the test I had originally had a 35% chance of being wrong.
I meet with my ultra excited oncologist monday at 10:45. He told me over the phone that I'm going to start the treatment for renal cancer along with an already approved protein inhibitor next week.
The bad news, insurance will not cover any of these tests, treatments or procedures. My Dr got the drug companies to front the first 2 months of treatment, after that I'm on my own. Treatment is about $10,000 a month.
I will post everything I know on monday or tuesday.