Tremelimumab

I recently read about a new drug, tremelimumab, in early trials.  Is anyone in this treatment program?  If so, would you mind sharing your thoughts about the drug and its effect on metastatic melanoma.

 Thanks.

Hi I'm thinking this may be the Ipilimumab drug???

I understand this is what is known as a single use compassionate use drug and can be used if a patient has been  treated with any prior systemic therapy  for advanced disease.

My friend has malignant melanoma, is currently using Temozolomide - may have to come off it soon - we will then ask about the Ipilimumab.   I have more information if you need it.

Actually, I could be wrong there - check out the names - I know some drugs use different names for the same thing

I checked out Wikipedia for this drug as well as other cites, it appears that Tremelimumab in the trial process has been called similar names.  Also, I believe it is used in combination with another vaccine.  My friend saw his oncologist Thursday, Nov. 15th at MDA; she scheduled him for 4 tremelimumab treatments starting in early December -- the treatments are administered intervenously in 21 day intervals.  We are hopeful that the nodules in his lungs that have so far been resistent to Temadar, Cisplatin and Vinblastin respond to this drug.  Forbes Magazine (Nov. 07 issue) has an article about this drug and its benefits that is very interesting.  You can find it on line.  So many of us are in this same boat.  We must find a cure.  Good luck to you and your patient.

Ipilimumab is the Bristol Meyers/Medarex version of the CTLA 4 blocker and Tremelimumab is the Pfizer version.  I believe they work the same way.  I also think that there are more Ipilimumab trial sites Tremelimumab sites.

How is your friend doing?  My father is due to start Ipilimumab soon.

Thanks for the information and for asking about my friend.  The medicos have actually decided not to use Tremelimumab right now.  He is at MD Anderson today for chest, abdomen and pelvis CT Scan, blood work, etc.  He meets with the doctor tomorrow.  She is now proposing a combination treatment of Temodar, Thalidomide and one other concoction yet unknown to me.  But, my friend C, I will call him, is doing pretty good.  His hemoglobin dropped to about 5 about 10 days ago -- he received 3 units of blood and was a new man in 24 hours.  His color is good again and his energy level is up.  We just hope and pray that this drug combination is effective on the nodules in his lungs...as I understand it, all other tumors are gone.  I hope your father does well and keep me posted on the effects of his upcoming treatment.

 

On 11/14/2007 Good Friend wrote:

I recently read about a new drug, tremelimumab, in early trials.  Is anyone in this treatment program?  If so, would you mind sharing your thoughts about the drug and its effect on metastatic melanoma.

 Thanks.

I have been on this treatment for about 10 months now. I was diagnosed stage 3c in the fall of 2004. At that time I had a few choices for post operative treatment #1 no treatment. #2 interferon for 1 year. #3 was a clinical trial comparing high dose inferon for one month against no treatment. I chose the clinical trial as I was not overly impressed by the statistics for interferon and I figured that I was not willing to have a year of hell for what I percieved as minimal chance of stopping the disease. In the clinical trial I ended up in the no treatment arm. It was a bit of a downer because I figured the disease would come back. A matter of time. Anyhow Jan of 2007 the cat came back. I had a couple of lesions on my left shoulder blade 6 inches from the original site. Within a month or six weeks I had 16 lesions. My oncologist told my that there was a new drug out that they had had good results with and he asked if I wanted to try the clinical trial. Well I figured I had nothing to lose. In the stage 3 trial the tremelimumab was to be compared to decarbazine so I had a 50/50 chance of recieving the new drug. I got in the tremelimumab arm of the trial and recieved first infusion early March 07 with the next ones to be three months apart. My oncologist told me that sometimes the treatment takes a little while to work. Well in June I had a tumor in my chest and had signs that mel was starting in my lungs. My onc (Dr. Smylie - a great guy) said that in any case the second round of treatment should take care of it (months 4,5&6) When I went back for my ct scans at the end of month 6 at the end of august the tumour in my chest was gone as well as the lungs were clear! I am still clear of disease, so am truly blessed. Side effects were diarrhea and fatigue as well as hot flashes and hives etc. Overall tolerable. The trick is on the diarrhea is to get on the imodeum right away. Immodeaum is your friend. Went through about 3 large bottles in a month or so. So for me this drug has saved my life. I am truly grateful that I was here in Edmonton where there was acces to this trial.

That's wonderful news!!!  For reasons unknown to me, my friend's doctor decided not to put him in the Tremelimumab trials at this time.  He is doing Temodar and Thalidomide daily for 7-8 weeks and one dose of Lomustine every 30 days.  I was disappointed that he was not given Tremelimumab, but it is not my life, it is his and he must make those decisions.  He is experiencing pretty severe fatigue and a lot of digestive discomfort with this treatment.  He goes in for scans next week I believe.  Hopefully there was be positive results.  I am going to let him know about your success.  Hope 2008 continues to be a good year for you.