question about vectibix

damama24 · April 2010

I will be starting new chemo April 21 that consists of Irinotecan and Vectibix (also called Panitumumab). I've talked to people who have had iriontecan but haven't heard of anyone recieving vectibix. I've read about all the possible side affects but just wanted to hear from someone who has acctually recieved it. Just wondering if anyone out there has had experience with it. Thanks for any info you might have. Blessings to you all. Deb

linandtom · April 2010

Vectibix
Have not known anyone who has been on this combination? Is this a clinical trial? How was this combination decided? Do you know if you have the KRAS mutation?

msccolon · April 2010

Vectibix and Erbitux
Those are the mono-clonal antibody drugs that KRAS non-mutants can take and it tends to cause a rash, which is said to show that it's working. This is a very common combo and you will find quite a few people have had this combo. I am KRAS mutant, and thus not a candidate for the Erbitux or Vectibix. Hope you are tolerating this well. They say just be sure to keep on top of the rash with lotions and antibiotics.
mary

damama24 · April 2010

linandtom said:
Vectibix
Have not known anyone who has been on this combination? Is this a clinical trial? How was this combination decided? Do you know if you have the KRAS mutation?

vectbix
I am k-ras negative and this combo was what my onc wants to try. I was on folfox with a phase one trial drug. Had 13 rounds of chemo out of 26 (only 6 rounds with oxiliplatin) when it stopped working. So this what my onc wants to try next. Blessings to all. Deb

Hatshepsut · April 2010

msccolon said:
Vectibix and Erbitux
Those are the mono-clonal antibody drugs that KRAS non-mutants can take and it tends to cause a rash, which is said to show that it's working. This is a very common combo and you will find quite a few people have had this combo. I am KRAS mutant, and thus not a candidate for the Erbitux or Vectibix. Hope you are tolerating this well. They say just be sure to keep on top of the rash with lotions and antibiotics.
mary

Efficacy of Vectibix?

Mary:

The rash means that Erbitux or Vectibix is working????? Does that mean "working" as in killing the cancer cells?

I need some good news today!

Hatshepsut

dianetavegia · April 2010

Hatshepsut said:
Efficacy of Vectibix?

Mary:

The rash means that Erbitux or Vectibix is working????? Does that mean "working" as in killing the cancer cells?

I need some good news today!

Hatshepsut

Lisa had the rash
Lisa42 had an AWFUL rash from Erbitux and then was tested and found she is Kras mutant so the Erbitux could not work on her.

msccolon · April 2010

Hatshepsut said:
Efficacy of Vectibix?

Mary:

The rash means that Erbitux or Vectibix is working????? Does that mean "working" as in killing the cancer cells?

I need some good news today!

Hatshepsut

that's what they say
supposedly, the worse the rash, the more likely it's working for you, as in killing cancer cells. Of course, you have to test KRAS non-mutant, or it shouldn't be used at all cause it won't work for you.
mary

Hatshepsut · April 2010

Rash Decisions....
My husband had an oncologist appointment yesterday and I ran the Vectibix/Erbitux rash theory past our doctor--the notion that the rash is an indication that the drug is working to kill the cancer cells. The oncologist told us that the rash is considered an indicator that the drug is working but that the critical factor was that there WAS a rash rather than the severity of the rash. I talked further with the oncology nurse at the treatment center and she explained that the dosage for Vectibix and Erbitux is calculated with, among other things, a goal of administering the drug at a sufficient strength to cause the rash (and, hence, enhance the efficacy of the drug).

Because I'm a decidedly curious type, I also did some research on the Internet on this subject, and found this link with some interesting information about targeted therapies (including Vectibix) and the rash:

Link: Tips for Managing Treatment-Related Rash and Dry Skin

I know there can be exceptions to the research findings and I wish that were not the case; the "exceptions" are, after all, human beings who want desperately to survive this disease.

I also want to be absolutely clear that I'm well-aware of my limitations and biases. I know that most of us here strive to walk that fine line between sharing our anecdotal experiences and seeming to give medical advice. That said, I found this information helpful and reassuring, particularly because the information came from two reliable (but not infallible) scientific sources.

My husband, who was tested for the critical KRAS mutation and whose cells were found to be "not mutated," has now had two infusions of Vectibix and has begun to develop a mild rash. I think it is safe to say that cancer patients seldom welcome side effects, but, given the information I've found so far, I'm willing to give the rash a qualified "high five" at this point.

(Deb: I hope you find this information interesting. Mary: Thank you for a post that pointed my thinking in this direction.)

Hatshepsut

Trapbear · April 2010

Hatshepsut said:
Rash Decisions....
My husband had an oncologist appointment yesterday and I ran the Vectibix/Erbitux rash theory past our doctor--the notion that the rash is an indication that the drug is working to kill the cancer cells. The oncologist told us that the rash is considered an indicator that the drug is working but that the critical factor was that there WAS a rash rather than the severity of the rash. I talked further with the oncology nurse at the treatment center and she explained that the dosage for Vectibix and Erbitux is calculated with, among other things, a goal of administering the drug at a sufficient strength to cause the rash (and, hence, enhance the efficacy of the drug).

Because I'm a decidedly curious type, I also did some research on the Internet on this subject, and found this link with some interesting information about targeted therapies (including Vectibix) and the rash:

Link: Tips for Managing Treatment-Related Rash and Dry Skin

I know there can be exceptions to the research findings and I wish that were not the case; the "exceptions" are, after all, human beings who want desperately to survive this disease.

I also want to be absolutely clear that I'm well-aware of my limitations and biases. I know that most of us here strive to walk that fine line between sharing our anecdotal experiences and seeming to give medical advice. That said, I found this information helpful and reassuring, particularly because the information came from two reliable (but not infallible) scientific sources.

My husband, who was tested for the critical KRAS mutation and whose cells were found to be "not mutated," has now had two infusions of Vectibix and has begun to develop a mild rash. I think it is safe to say that cancer patients seldom welcome side effects, but, given the information I've found so far, I'm willing to give the rash a qualified "high five" at this point.

(Deb: I hope you find this information interesting. Mary: Thank you for a post that pointed my thinking in this direction.)

Hatshepsut

Patients get a rash because
Patients get a rash because the target for Erbitux/Vectibix is EGF Receptor which is present on skin cells. All normal skin cells have wild type non-mutant KRAS. A rash means the drug is "hitting its target". One can assume that if drug concentrations are high enough to hit the target on the skin cell that the target on the cancer cell is also being hit. Unfortunately, hitting or blocking the EGF Receptor pathway does not kill all colon cancer. As most of you know, tumors that are mutant KRAS (another molecule in the EGFR pathway) are not sucesptible to EGFR inhibitors. That's a long answer, but if you are KRAS wild type, then having a rash is a good sign. It means that hopefully the cancer cells are dying.

Hatshepsut · April 2010

Trapbear said:
Patients get a rash because
Patients get a rash because the target for Erbitux/Vectibix is EGF Receptor which is present on skin cells. All normal skin cells have wild type non-mutant KRAS. A rash means the drug is "hitting its target". One can assume that if drug concentrations are high enough to hit the target on the skin cell that the target on the cancer cell is also being hit. Unfortunately, hitting or blocking the EGF Receptor pathway does not kill all colon cancer. As most of you know, tumors that are mutant KRAS (another molecule in the EGFR pathway) are not sucesptible to EGFR inhibitors. That's a long answer, but if you are KRAS wild type, then having a rash is a good sign. It means that hopefully the cancer cells are dying.

Thanks.

Thank you for posting this information. Your clear explanation of the process helps me (and, I'm sure, others) more clearly understand how these drugs work.

Hatshepsut

damama24 · April 2010

Hatshepsut said:
Thanks.

Thank you for posting this information. Your clear explanation of the process helps me (and, I'm sure, others) more clearly understand how these drugs work.

Hatshepsut

vectibix
Thanks for all your comments. I received my first round of vectibix april 21. So far so good. Chemo went well no side affects yet. Actually feeling really good. Hoping this new chemo combo will do the trick. Blessings to you all. Deb

question about vectibix

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