A have a basic familiarity with a new trial testing lurbenectedin heading by Dr. Erkut Borazanci of HonorHealth as in its mode of action but not much more because of the clinical study just getting started. I do have experience with clinical trials so I can comment regarding my experience.

When I was facing a diagnosis of stage IV disease in 2012, even before starting standard of care treatment, I began looking at clinical trials. It is said that those with later stage pancreatic cancer participating in clinical trials may have better outcomes than standard of care. Every drug used in cancer treatment began as a clinical trial and had to show efficacy that was equal to or better in some way if it was being tested against an existing drug. My search became easier when testing revealed a genetic mutation that was targetable. It took 14 months until I found the trial that was a best match to my set of criteria matching the trial’s eligibility criteria.

For those not having genetic mutations or actionable biomarkers, a third type of clinical trial tests small molecule drugs. This is a very active area of clinical research and from understanding the mechanisms of how a drug works at the molecular level, drugs that were developed for other types of cancers or conditions offer the potential to treat other types of cancers. The clinical study I was in first was for a drug first tested on ovarian cancer and got approval. Then it was tested on breast cancer and approved for that use. Next was pancreatic and now it is being used for prostate as an example of how a drug’s application of use can evolve. It doesn’t work for every patient but for some, it has made the difference.

With clinical trials, a study participant is observed much more closely by the study team than someone doing standard of care. When I entered my trial, searching for treatments did not stop. I continued looking for other options should the trial not work. I wanted to be prepared and with limited targeted therapies, focused on small molecule drug trials. Fortunately the drug I obtained as targeted therapy with the objective of long-term maintenance monotherapy continues to work and I remain on the drug which continues to be provided free of charge for over 8.5 years now. I continue to be closely and frequently monitored for the drug which is well tolerated.