We returned to Austin from MD Anderson on Wednesday with good news, Susie’s scans are stable. This was her last two month check-up. She graduates now to check-ups every three months. However, the few weeks before last week’s appointments were very nerve racking.
When I returned from my work travels, middle of November, I noticed changes with Susie. Specifically, she seemed to be having more challenges with speech and her personality seemed different, withdrawn. We went up to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, which the travel up and back was stressful and challenging for her. I also noticed an intermittent twitch with her right arm. While people slept, I spent most of my time researching current treatments for Glioblastoma Multiforme and IDH1 tumors. Below are the two protocols that seem the most promising and are being run as Clinical Trials at MD Anderson:
- NCT02481154 – Phase 1, AG-881 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors, Including Gliomas, with an IDH1 and/or IDH2 Mutation
- NCT02197169 – Phase 1b, Adenovirus (DNX-2401) and Interferon Gamma for Recurrent Glioblastoma or Gliosarcoma
From looking at the exclusion criteria, I noticed that the AG-881 was excluding patients who have had prior Bevacizumab (Avastin). In the past, we have talked with Susie’s Neuro-Oncologists about Avastin, as it has been shown to improve radiation affect. We decided not to go down the route of more drugs, as Susie’s experience in 2014 was less than pleasant.
Nevertheless, I will keep my eyes on these two Clinical Trials. They, along with the Optune Tumor Treating Field (TTF) device, seem like options in combination that may make headway on this terrible disease. Hopefully, we will not have need for them.
