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Decrease in LDH a good sign?

Forums General Melanoma Community Decrease in LDH a good sign?

  • Post
    Ashley
    Participant

      Hi,

      My dad has stage 4, and just started on a combo trial of nivolumab and lirilumab.  Since starting his LDH has been dropping… I don't want to get my hopes up, but at the start it was 400, after the 1st dose it went to 397, then 348, and today 260 (normal range 110-210).  I'm hoping this is a good thing, but just looking for some feedback 🙂

       

      Thanks,

      Ashley

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        rick1981
        Participant

          First of all, I'm NOT a medicial expert… but yes, all I have heard so far is that a dropping LDH value is a good sign and that there are no "falsely low" values only potentially "falsely high" values – so it seems to point in a good direction! Good luck!

          rick1981
          Participant

            First of all, I'm NOT a medicial expert… but yes, all I have heard so far is that a dropping LDH value is a good sign and that there are no "falsely low" values only potentially "falsely high" values – so it seems to point in a good direction! Good luck!

            rick1981
            Participant

              First of all, I'm NOT a medicial expert… but yes, all I have heard so far is that a dropping LDH value is a good sign and that there are no "falsely low" values only potentially "falsely high" values – so it seems to point in a good direction! Good luck!

                rick1981
                Participant

                  By the way, what is lirilumab? Is it a next gen immunotheraphy?

                  rick1981
                  Participant

                    By the way, what is lirilumab? Is it a next gen immunotheraphy?

                    rick1981
                    Participant

                      By the way, what is lirilumab? Is it a next gen immunotheraphy?

                      Ashley
                      Participant

                        Thanks!  Lirilumab is targeted to kill the melanoma, whereas nivolumab is supposed to keep the immune system from shutting down because cancer is taking too long to fight.  Liri has only been through one phase 1 study and has a really good safety profile.  I believe this is the first study it is in that includes melanoma as a target.

                        Ashley
                        Participant

                          Thanks!  Lirilumab is targeted to kill the melanoma, whereas nivolumab is supposed to keep the immune system from shutting down because cancer is taking too long to fight.  Liri has only been through one phase 1 study and has a really good safety profile.  I believe this is the first study it is in that includes melanoma as a target.

                          Ashley
                          Participant

                            Thanks!  Lirilumab is targeted to kill the melanoma, whereas nivolumab is supposed to keep the immune system from shutting down because cancer is taking too long to fight.  Liri has only been through one phase 1 study and has a really good safety profile.  I believe this is the first study it is in that includes melanoma as a target.

                            BrianP
                            Participant

                              Rick, I just assumed Ashley had meant to type ipililumumab but I googled it and found that it is an anti-kir drug.  Learn something new everyday.

                              Ashley, I agree with Rick.  Although in my experience it's good not to get your hopes up to high due to the rollercoaster like ride of this melanoma challenge, I do think a decreasing LDH is a pretty good sign for you all.

                              BrianP
                              Participant

                                Rick, I just assumed Ashley had meant to type ipililumumab but I googled it and found that it is an anti-kir drug.  Learn something new everyday.

                                Ashley, I agree with Rick.  Although in my experience it's good not to get your hopes up to high due to the rollercoaster like ride of this melanoma challenge, I do think a decreasing LDH is a pretty good sign for you all.

                                BrianP
                                Participant

                                  Rick, I just assumed Ashley had meant to type ipililumumab but I googled it and found that it is an anti-kir drug.  Learn something new everyday.

                                  Ashley, I agree with Rick.  Although in my experience it's good not to get your hopes up to high due to the rollercoaster like ride of this melanoma challenge, I do think a decreasing LDH is a pretty good sign for you all.

                                RJoeyB
                                Participant

                                  Agreed in general with what's already been posted, and note that everyone will be different.  Even at Stage IV for over four years now, I've never had very high tumor burden, but even when my disease has been more active, my LDH has been relatively stable.  I've also had a time or two when scans showed low activity but LDH was elevated, but for the doctors, it seems that scan results always trump LDH levels.  But given the modest downward trend your dad is seeing, it's not a bad thing.  Hopefully it's an early sign of some good scans to come.

                                  Joe

                                  RJoeyB
                                  Participant

                                    Agreed in general with what's already been posted, and note that everyone will be different.  Even at Stage IV for over four years now, I've never had very high tumor burden, but even when my disease has been more active, my LDH has been relatively stable.  I've also had a time or two when scans showed low activity but LDH was elevated, but for the doctors, it seems that scan results always trump LDH levels.  But given the modest downward trend your dad is seeing, it's not a bad thing.  Hopefully it's an early sign of some good scans to come.

                                    Joe

                                    RJoeyB
                                    Participant

                                      Agreed in general with what's already been posted, and note that everyone will be different.  Even at Stage IV for over four years now, I've never had very high tumor burden, but even when my disease has been more active, my LDH has been relatively stable.  I've also had a time or two when scans showed low activity but LDH was elevated, but for the doctors, it seems that scan results always trump LDH levels.  But given the modest downward trend your dad is seeing, it's not a bad thing.  Hopefully it's an early sign of some good scans to come.

                                      Joe

                                      Gene_S
                                      Participant

                                        Hi Ashley,

                                        My husband had very high LDH when he was diagnosed stage IV and it was considered good news when he went into the clinical trial with Ipilimimaub and GM-CSF as it began dropping when scan time came it was down closer to the normal range and continued dropping until it remained in the normal range and the scans showed the tumors shrinking.  You can read more in his profile if you would like.

                                        Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

                                          Ashley
                                          Participant

                                            It was a good sign!!!! 20% overall reduction, even shrunk stuff in the brain!!! So happy!!!!!

                                            Ashley
                                            Participant

                                              It was a good sign!!!! 20% overall reduction, even shrunk stuff in the brain!!! So happy!!!!!

                                              Ashley
                                              Participant

                                                It was a good sign!!!! 20% overall reduction, even shrunk stuff in the brain!!! So happy!!!!!

                                                BrianP
                                                Participant

                                                  Great news Ashley.  Happy for you!!!

                                                  BrianP
                                                  Participant

                                                    Great news Ashley.  Happy for you!!!

                                                    BrianP
                                                    Participant

                                                      Great news Ashley.  Happy for you!!!

                                                    Gene_S
                                                    Participant

                                                      Hi Ashley,

                                                      My husband had very high LDH when he was diagnosed stage IV and it was considered good news when he went into the clinical trial with Ipilimimaub and GM-CSF as it began dropping when scan time came it was down closer to the normal range and continued dropping until it remained in the normal range and the scans showed the tumors shrinking.  You can read more in his profile if you would like.

                                                      Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

                                                      Gene_S
                                                      Participant

                                                        Hi Ashley,

                                                        My husband had very high LDH when he was diagnosed stage IV and it was considered good news when he went into the clinical trial with Ipilimimaub and GM-CSF as it began dropping when scan time came it was down closer to the normal range and continued dropping until it remained in the normal range and the scans showed the tumors shrinking.  You can read more in his profile if you would like.

                                                        Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

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