Alimpta

MichaelaMarie
MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Has anyone ever been on Alimpta? Do any of you know anything about this drug? I think it has been used for lung cancer. I haven't been able to find out very much information about it, but my doctor says that there has been some success with it's use on ovarian cancer. Thanks............with love and hugs, MM

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    new one to me
    Hi MM, that is a new name to me but sometimes Docs call them by different names. Like when I was on nexavar(that is what the company called it) my doc is like what .. oh you mean sorafenib. Hopefully someone here can help or the other option would be go to the lung cancer and search for the name. I am so glad to see a post from you, tell us how you are doing please. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #3
    BonnieR said:

    new one to me
    Hi MM, that is a new name to me but sometimes Docs call them by different names. Like when I was on nexavar(that is what the company called it) my doc is like what .. oh you mean sorafenib. Hopefully someone here can help or the other option would be go to the lung cancer and search for the name. I am so glad to see a post from you, tell us how you are doing please. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    From Shands Cancer Center, University of FL
    I cut and pasted this for you....

    Alimta® Active Against Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer
    According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, treatment with the chemotherapy drug Alimta® (pemetrexed) reduced the extent of cancer in some women with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

    Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related death in the United States. Initial treatment often includes a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.

    Women who experience cancer progression during or within six months of treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen are considered to have platinum-resistant cancer. New approaches to the treatment of platinum-resistant cancer continue to be evaluated.

    Alimta is chemotherapy drug that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for selected patients with mesothelioma or non–small cell lung cancer.

    To evaluate Alimta in the treatment of ovarian cancer, researchers conducted a Phase II clinical trial among 51 women. The women had ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer that had progressed during treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy or recurred within six months.

    Study participants received intravenous (IV) Alimta every 21 days. Treatment continued until the cancer progressed or until the patient experienced unacceptable side effects. Forty percent of the study participants received six or more cycles of treatment.

    •One patient (2%) experienced a complete disappearance of detectable cancer, and nine patients (19%) experienced a partial disappearance of detectable cancer.
    •Median survival without cancer progression was 2.8 months.
    •Median overall survival was 11.4 months.
    •Serious (grade 3 or 4) side effects included low blood counts.
    The researchers concluded that Alimta was generally well tolerated and active against recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. They note that Alimta warrants further investigation in this population.
  • MichaelaMarie
    MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
    #4
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    From Shands Cancer Center, University of FL
    I cut and pasted this for you....

    Alimta® Active Against Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer
    According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, treatment with the chemotherapy drug Alimta® (pemetrexed) reduced the extent of cancer in some women with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

    Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related death in the United States. Initial treatment often includes a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.

    Women who experience cancer progression during or within six months of treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen are considered to have platinum-resistant cancer. New approaches to the treatment of platinum-resistant cancer continue to be evaluated.

    Alimta is chemotherapy drug that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for selected patients with mesothelioma or non–small cell lung cancer.

    To evaluate Alimta in the treatment of ovarian cancer, researchers conducted a Phase II clinical trial among 51 women. The women had ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer that had progressed during treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy or recurred within six months.

    Study participants received intravenous (IV) Alimta every 21 days. Treatment continued until the cancer progressed or until the patient experienced unacceptable side effects. Forty percent of the study participants received six or more cycles of treatment.

    •One patient (2%) experienced a complete disappearance of detectable cancer, and nine patients (19%) experienced a partial disappearance of detectable cancer.
    •Median survival without cancer progression was 2.8 months.
    •Median overall survival was 11.4 months.
    •Serious (grade 3 or 4) side effects included low blood counts.
    The researchers concluded that Alimta was generally well tolerated and active against recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. They note that Alimta warrants further investigation in this population.

    Thank you
    Carlene,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to research, copy and paste this information for me. I'm hoping that the low blood counts are NOT worse than with the Gemzar/Cisplatin combo that I have been on. Hugs, MM
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #5
    MichaelaMarie said:

    Thank you
    Carlene,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to research, copy and paste this information for me. I'm hoping that the low blood counts are NOT worse than with the Gemzar/Cisplatin combo that I have been on. Hugs, MM

    Did you notice this?
    •One patient (2%) experienced a complete disappearance of detectable cancer.

    MM........I know it's only 2%, but look at it this way, SOMEONE went NED as a result of this therapy. Why not you, too?
  • MichaelaMarie
    MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
    #6
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    Did you notice this?
    •One patient (2%) experienced a complete disappearance of detectable cancer.

    MM........I know it's only 2%, but look at it this way, SOMEONE went NED as a result of this therapy. Why not you, too?

    Why not me?
    That's right, Carlene, why not me? Thanks for the encouragement. Hugs, MM
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #7
    Alimpa
    Hi MM,
    I just spoke with my Seattle doc this am, and he said that Alimpa just got approved for oavarian, and they have been having some good results. It was on the list that he recommended I put in my bag of things for the future. Like Carlene said, it has been used for lung for awhile.
    Hugs,
    kathleen:)

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