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Targeted Therapy (tucatinib & trastuzumab) for stage 4 CRC
My cancer had spread to liver and a lesion was found in lung. Standard folfox 6 cycles , two liver resections and then Radiation + Xeloda was the treatment protocol.My response was considered good at various stages. Next in the plan was rectal surgery to address the primary.
During February23 review and scans it was found that though liver was clear and primary had shrunk, new lesions have appeared in the lung. Now Drs have dropped the surgery plans.
I am to be given targeted therapy with a very recently FDA approved drug combination for Colorectal cancer ( Trastuzunab + Tucatinib). I am eligible for this since genetic structure of my tumor is HER2 …
Has anyone experienced such a situation i.e treatment with above meds
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No but I am very interested in your results. I was asking Dr. Jones about it yesterday but I am not eligible because not her2 positive (which is a requirement). Very exciting possibilities because the targeted therapies have had some dramatic results (like dostarlimab). It was just recently approved.
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1 ReactionThe treatment protocol will be informed to us by Dr in May. I will certainly keep you updated on the progress.
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1 Reaction@mallika58, that's great that you qualify for this recently (January 19, 2023) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved combination of two targeted drugs, tucatinib (Tukysa) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) for people with advanced colorectal cancer that produces an excess amount of a protein called HER2.
In the clinical trial that led to the accelerated approval, called MOUNTAINEER, 38% of people who received the drug combination had their tumors shrink or disappear. In another 33%, tumors stopped growing for some time. At the time the study results were presented last July, more than half the participants who received the drugs were still alive 2 years after beginning treatment. Read more here: https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2023/fda-tucatinib-her2-colorectal-cancer
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) has long been used as successful treatment for people with HER2 positive breast cancer. I think you might be the first colorectal cancer member who has mentioned this protocol on the forum. I'm glad you started this discussion to share what you learn.
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1 ReactionI have now completed 8 cycles of targeted therapy with Trastuzumab and Tucatinib combination. Infusion of Trastuzumab is given every 21 days and Tucatinib is a daily intake of 300 mg in morning and similar in evening.
Pet ct scans in September 23 showed good response with lesions shrinking in most areas.
They will do another pet ct after two months. I am informed this medication and monitoring will be the regimen for me.
Hoping the cancer is well controlled at low level for a reasonable duration .
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