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Update – Dab/Tram trial
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Update – Dab/Tram trial

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Update – Dab/Tram trial

  • Post
    • September 4, 2018 at 2:38 pm
    Tracyyy
    Participant

      Hi friends,

      I haven't posted in a while but decided to give you an update about my mother's situation. As most of you know she is Stage 3C unresectable with pelvic lymph nodes involved and in March 2018 she started a double blinded trial Dab/Tram + PDR001 (immunotherapy) or Dab/Tram + Placebo. First scans in June showed that the nodes have significantly decreased in size, but then in July the side effects started – high fevers, sweating, chills, nausea, rash, etc. She was off the drugs couple of times, in August the oncologist reduced the dose of Dab/Tram and now she is doing well. The scans in August showed that the nodes are stable – they haven't decreased, but they haven't got bigger too. The scan also showed that my mother has lung inflammation – pneumonitits. The oncologist told us that this not a side effect of the targeted therapy and that is why they think that the infusions she gets together with the targeted therapy is immunotherapy, because pneumonitis is a well-known side effect of it. They prescribed her some steroids and antibiotics and the inflammation is almost gone. Did any of you get pneumonitis while on immunotherapy? I know that stable is good response, but I want so much for her to be already NED! Best wishes! Xxx
       

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        • September 26, 2018 at 1:44 pm
        Tracyyy
        Participant

          Can anyone share their experience here please?

            • September 27, 2018 at 4:01 am
            jrtufo
            Participant

              I had 5 Keytruda infusions then stopped due to progression.  Switched to Taf/Mek in Sept 17, added the Keytruda for two infusions in Dec of 17 and got really sick.  Stopped everything for a month to recover some energy and went back on Tak/Mek.  On and off with the combo as fatigue/fever problems came and went.  Recently had a very bad case of pneumonia.  My doc thinks that the Keytruda is out of my system-but I always wonder.  Sticking with the Taf/Mek as long as my scans continue to show dead tumor tissue and I can handle the fevers.  I hope that your mom is getting the answers she needs to decide on treatment.  Hopefully she is at a teaching hospital and is get oncology AND palliative care.

              • September 27, 2018 at 12:06 pm
              Tracyyy
              Participant

                Thanks for your reply, Julie! My mum also has problems with fever from time to time, even though she is on the reduced dose now. Hope it will disappear soon. I know that immunotherapy can stay in your system long after infusions have stopped. Did you get a PET or CT? I wonder if my mother's nodes are dead tissue too because her last 3 CTs show stable pelvic lymph nodes – about 7 mm each. I think that PET/CT will show if it is active disease or just dead tissue.

                • November 6, 2018 at 3:28 am
                Tiffany Dick
                Participant
                  I had terrible fevers with taf/mek (and keytruda) until dr prescribed a gout medicine, Colchizine. I take a half dose and all my side effects (dry eyes/mouth, fevers, night sweats, chills) have nearly been eliminated for past 6 months. Last year I couldn’t stay on the meds bc of my side effect issues. Might be something ask about.
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