PBJ

Yes, Frank!!  I agree with you on the adoptive cell transfer theories as well as the dendritic vaccines!!  My husband is BRAF negative so Vemurafenib is not an option.  I too have read extensively about the granulyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and its consequence to the cytotoxic t cells in melanoma.  I feel this is very promising, but thus far I have not been able to locate a clinical trial for Stage 3b patients in the U.S.  I know ECOG conducted an 800+ patient trial to determine the efficacy of GM-CSF as an adjuvant therapy but they are awaiting results.  Do you know of any trials that are open in Australia?  Or a website that I can search for trials in Australia?  Interestingly enough, I know you must be so proud of your fellow Aussies as it is my opinion that your docs/researchers are leading the way in discovering viable antigen tumor specific therapies for this disease!  I like you am hesitant to believe that one drug that signals only one pathway can slow down the progression of a disease that is known to link directly to the immune system and its numerous signalling pathways.  Also, we are yet to see the long term autologous effects of the stimulation of the apoptotic phase of the cell division.  I really appreciate your reply as you seem to be a kindred spirit as a "research junkie"!!  Please share any other theories that you might have as I know you have been at this much longer than I.  Thanks!! 

Yes, Frank!!  I agree with you on the adoptive cell transfer theories as well as the dendritic vaccines!!  My husband is BRAF negative so Vemurafenib is not an option.  I too have read extensively about the granulyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and its consequence to the cytotoxic t cells in melanoma.  I feel this is very promising, but thus far I have not been able to locate a clinical trial for Stage 3b patients in the U.S.  I know ECOG conducted an 800+ patient trial to determine the efficacy of GM-CSF as an adjuvant therapy but they are awaiting results.  Do you know of any trials that are open in Australia?  Or a website that I can search for trials in Australia?  Interestingly enough, I know you must be so proud of your fellow Aussies as it is my opinion that your docs/researchers are leading the way in discovering viable antigen tumor specific therapies for this disease!  I like you am hesitant to believe that one drug that signals only one pathway can slow down the progression of a disease that is known to link directly to the immune system and its numerous signalling pathways.  Also, we are yet to see the long term autologous effects of the stimulation of the apoptotic phase of the cell division.  I really appreciate your reply as you seem to be a kindred spirit as a "research junkie"!!  Please share any other theories that you might have as I know you have been at this much longer than I.  Thanks!! 

Yes, Frank!!  I agree with you on the adoptive cell transfer theories as well as the dendritic vaccines!!  My husband is BRAF negative so Vemurafenib is not an option.  I too have read extensively about the granulyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and its consequence to the cytotoxic t cells in melanoma.  I feel this is very promising, but thus far I have not been able to locate a clinical trial for Stage 3b patients in the U.S.  I know ECOG conducted an 800+ patient trial to determine the efficacy of GM-CSF as an adjuvant therapy but they are awaiting results.  Do you know of any trials that are open in Australia?  Or a website that I can search for trials in Australia?  Interestingly enough, I know you must be so proud of your fellow Aussies as it is my opinion that your docs/researchers are leading the way in discovering viable antigen tumor specific therapies for this disease!  I like you am hesitant to believe that one drug that signals only one pathway can slow down the progression of a disease that is known to link directly to the immune system and its numerous signalling pathways.  Also, we are yet to see the long term autologous effects of the stimulation of the apoptotic phase of the cell division.  I really appreciate your reply as you seem to be a kindred spirit as a "research junkie"!!  Please share any other theories that you might have as I know you have been at this much longer than I.  Thanks!! 

Wendy, thanks so much for the information.  I hope your Mom is doing better and she has responded to the Yervoy.  My husband is also BRAF negative and I am doubtful that he would test for the C-kit expression since he has a lentigo maligna variety as opposed to the mucosal subtype.  Since my husband's intranodal tumor has been surgically resected, he is not a candidate for the CDX-1401 trial as we are primarily searching for the most effective adjuvant therapy.  I did call the laboratory in Huntersville to arrange a test to determine the NY-ESO-1 expression and possibly that of its antibody should it exist.  Unfortunately, they were unable to perform this test.  Jahleen indicated that they send all of their tests off to determine these results.  BUT I really appreciate the lead.  I will keep searching for a local facility that could provide this test.  I will keep your Mom in my thoughts and prayers!!   How is she doing since her July completion of Yervoy?  I hope well!!   Thanks again!!

Wendy, thanks so much for the information.  I hope your Mom is doing better and she has responded to the Yervoy.  My husband is also BRAF negative and I am doubtful that he would test for the C-kit expression since he has a lentigo maligna variety as opposed to the mucosal subtype.  Since my husband's intranodal tumor has been surgically resected, he is not a candidate for the CDX-1401 trial as we are primarily searching for the most effective adjuvant therapy.  I did call the laboratory in Huntersville to arrange a test to determine the NY-ESO-1 expression and possibly that of its antibody should it exist.  Unfortunately, they were unable to perform this test.  Jahleen indicated that they send all of their tests off to determine these results.  BUT I really appreciate the lead.  I will keep searching for a local facility that could provide this test.  I will keep your Mom in my thoughts and prayers!!   How is she doing since her July completion of Yervoy?  I hope well!!   Thanks again!!

Wendy, thanks so much for the information.  I hope your Mom is doing better and she has responded to the Yervoy.  My husband is also BRAF negative and I am doubtful that he would test for the C-kit expression since he has a lentigo maligna variety as opposed to the mucosal subtype.  Since my husband's intranodal tumor has been surgically resected, he is not a candidate for the CDX-1401 trial as we are primarily searching for the most effective adjuvant therapy.  I did call the laboratory in Huntersville to arrange a test to determine the NY-ESO-1 expression and possibly that of its antibody should it exist.  Unfortunately, they were unable to perform this test.  Jahleen indicated that they send all of their tests off to determine these results.  BUT I really appreciate the lead.  I will keep searching for a local facility that could provide this test.  I will keep your Mom in my thoughts and prayers!!   How is she doing since her July completion of Yervoy?  I hope well!!   Thanks again!!

Thanks for the information Wendy!!  How was your Mother's response to Yervoy?  My husband is negative for Braf as well.  Since he does not have the mucosal variety, but rather lentigo maligna melanoma he would most likely not be C-kit either.  Since my husband has had the tumor in his lymph node removed, he is technically NED so he is not eligible for the clinical trial on the CDX-1401.  I did call the Huntersville Clinic to see if they are able to run the test to determine the expression but apparently they are not equipped with that test.  They send all of their cartridges off.  I was just hoping to find a laboratory locally that could run the test to determine the NY-ESO-1 expression as well as its subsequent antibody expression if such should exist.  CMC and Celligent are not equipped to run that test either.  I will keep searching.  I hope your Mom is doing well.  Did she have positive results since her Yervoy completion?  I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers!! 

Thanks for the information Wendy!!  How was your Mother's response to Yervoy?  My husband is negative for Braf as well.  Since he does not have the mucosal variety, but rather lentigo maligna melanoma he would most likely not be C-kit either.  Since my husband has had the tumor in his lymph node removed, he is technically NED so he is not eligible for the clinical trial on the CDX-1401.  I did call the Huntersville Clinic to see if they are able to run the test to determine the expression but apparently they are not equipped with that test.  They send all of their cartridges off.  I was just hoping to find a laboratory locally that could run the test to determine the NY-ESO-1 expression as well as its subsequent antibody expression if such should exist.  CMC and Celligent are not equipped to run that test either.  I will keep searching.  I hope your Mom is doing well.  Did she have positive results since her Yervoy completion?  I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers!! 

Thanks for the information Wendy!!  How was your Mother's response to Yervoy?  My husband is negative for Braf as well.  Since he does not have the mucosal variety, but rather lentigo maligna melanoma he would most likely not be C-kit either.  Since my husband has had the tumor in his lymph node removed, he is technically NED so he is not eligible for the clinical trial on the CDX-1401.  I did call the Huntersville Clinic to see if they are able to run the test to determine the expression but apparently they are not equipped with that test.  They send all of their cartridges off.  I was just hoping to find a laboratory locally that could run the test to determine the NY-ESO-1 expression as well as its subsequent antibody expression if such should exist.  CMC and Celligent are not equipped to run that test either.  I will keep searching.  I hope your Mom is doing well.  Did she have positive results since her Yervoy completion?  I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers!!