Anybody currently on PARP inhibitors?

Hello beautiful ovca warriors.

I'm Sue and I'm from Sydney, Australia. I've just joined today, but I've visited and used other ovarian cancer support groups before... I say you can never get enough information or make enough friends! I love visiting ovca sites and discussion forums and listening to all your stories because I realize I'm not alone. I am encouraged by all your testimonies.

As you can see from my profile, I was dx with OC stage 3C in March 06. I also have the BRCA1 mutation. Since Oct 08 I have been enrolled in a Clinical Trial comparing PARP inhibitors and Doxil. I started on the Doxil in October 2008 but stopped responding to it at the end of January this year. Since last month, I have now been on the PARP inhibitors.

Anybody else getting PARP inhibitors either orally or IV right now? I'm trying to network with as many people on this drug so we can compare notes as it's such a new drug.

Just to let you girls know, my oncologist said that the CA125 marker is used to measure responses to the PARP inhibitors... which was something new I learnt... I thought that the CA125 wouldnt be very reliable like with the Doxil, but of course the scans will always be the most important tools to see how things are going. My CA125 has been rising since the end of December last year and it's over 1,800 and counting, but I'm more interested in the groin/lower pelvic tumors stabilising, shrinking or even disappearing!!

Oh and hello again to other girls who recognize me and may have seen me from other ovca groups :)

Love,
Sue

[bebe709]

I am currently seeking a PARP inhibitor trial.. I live in South Florida...

After reading your blog... I not sure where you live... Also, are you
responding to the PARP Inhibitor?  How long have you been on it?  I am thinking of getting on this trial... Have you had several re-occurences?  I have.  I would love to keep in touch with you... this is my first time on this.... I really hope to hear from you soon.  March 10, 2009.  Thanks

[lucymullis]

Welcome to both of you.  Bebe, are you considering the phase I Parp trial at Moffit?

[bebe709]

Hi Lucy,
I hope you get this message.... I hope I am doing it right.... pls let me know.

How are you?  I live in South Florida... Tampa is 300 miles away... I spk to the
coordinator yesterday regarding the trial... I would have to be there for 4 days the
first  week... 3 days the following week... and so on... in about the 3rd cycle/month...
It might be once or twice a week.   I have to first research to see if any hospitals, universities, etc. here in the south east is available first... since Moffit is not around
the corner.  Where do you live?  Have you heard about anything else out there...
Any supplements that you are taking... and How are you doing?  Would love to
hear from you soon.

Bebe

[Ramsay14]

Hi Sue,

I too am new to the forum.  I've been visiting the site anonymously for about 6 months but had to join today when I saw your post.  I am on a PARP inhibitor trial as well.  A different one than yours I think.  I guess there are many PARP trials going on right now.  The study I am on is evaluating BSI-201 in combination with topotecan for ladies with ovarian cancer.  I left my doctor and hospital to go for this trial and then within a month my old hospital had it available.  Figures.  

Check out sites below if you are interested in researching this trial.
clinicaltrials dot gov #NCT00422682
and biparsciences *******

I too am very interested in connecting with ladies who are on PARP inhibitors.  If you wouldn't mind posting a little more info about the trial you are on I would love to research it.  How are you doing on it?  If you look at my profile you can see the results I've had so far with 2 1/2 treatments of the BSI-201+topotecan cocktail.

Lauren :o)

[sueoz]

Hi girls,

Today is my 3 year anniversary since being diagnosed with ovca.

I received an early birthday gift a couple of days ago when I was told that my CA125 had dropped from over 1,800 to 1,386 after being on the oral PARPs for 2 weeks. This is good news, especially since my CA125 rose in the first week after I was taking the PARPS... but I know that the CT scans will be more revealing when I come to have them in the coming months.

I'm adjusting to taking the PARPs with the eating schedules (no food 1 hour before and 2 hours after taking them). Side effects have been minimal, but I have been feeling fatigued (and still having some pain now and then, mainly in the chest region)... but then again fighting cancer is tiring on the body, isnt it.
My blood tests have also shown anemia and neutropenia while on the PARPs, so even though they're meant to only attack the cancer, they may still be affecting the immune system.

Sue