Recurrence Forum - Hormonal Drugs - Additional Weapon to fight Ovarian Cancer

1. First Theory - Dr. Goodman stated, "Ovarian cancer is interesting in that the cells in a person's tumor are not all the same." This statement maybe the major reason for a very high recurrence rate. When we approached our Onc about additional drugs to fight the disease, I asked: "We have a cytotoxic drug (Gemzar), a biologic drug (Avastin), why not add a hormonal drug? After all Ovarian Cancer is still hormone-driven. Our Onc said yes to Femara.

2. Second Theory - Since Ovarian Cancer has so many different kinds of vessels or receptors that feeds the tumors, there is a need for a varied kind or combination of drugs. There are just so many to lists: VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factors receptor), PDGF (platelet derived), EGFR (epidermal), estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the list go on and on. No wonder, Carbo/Taxol may put many to sleep, but majority wakes up again and many times it just resist them in a short period.

Here's a statement from the clinical trial/study of Femara:

"Some types of ovarian cancer cells are thought to be stimulated to grow through the presence of estrogen and/or progesterone, two female hormones. These types of ovarian cancer cells have receptors, called estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, and laboratory tests can determine their presence. Researchers have speculated that estrogen receptor- positive (ER-positive) and/or progesterone receptor-positive (PR-positive) ovarian cancers may respond well to treatment with hormonal therapy, which works by blocking the effects of the hormones on the cells or reduces the hormone levels in the body."

3. Third Theory - It's a must that we increase the chances of drugs to work. Since we don't have a 100% cure yet, why not increase the probabilty of the drugs we are using to be as close to 100%?

So for example if we are offered Topotecan or Doxil or Gemzar alone and assign a probability of 30% to work (positive response), then why not ask another drug say Avastin and assign another 30% or 40% to add to that drug? So far we have now 70%. Then why not ask Femara or Tamoxifen or Arimidex and add from 10% to 20%? Then we have a maximum of 90%. This is the reason why people go on clinical trial.

When we had our 2nd opinion at UCLA, two doctors agreed that the addition of Femara was an excellent idea. In fact one said, that the addition of 10% was huge in this kind of cancer and Femara won't interfere with the mechanism of the drugs we are using.

4. Conclusion: Since it takes some 30 days or more for Femara to work, it is worth starting now since they are taken daily in pill form.

Here's the result of that study of Femara,

"Researchers from England recently conducted a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Femara

[Helmar]

Hi Jatoo... and thankyou for this informative piece. It's very interesting and is certainly food for thought for all of us. There are some different treatments coming along, and a friend of mine has just started on Gene therapy, which she will have along with Tax/Carbo. I will follow how that goes.
I hope Melody is doing well. Best wishes to you both...Helen..

[alanpvegas]

You rock!  Very informative :)

Yes hormonal 'drugs' do work...there are many different types of hormonal activity that can be taken against ovarian cancer with (lab and actual) success:

- Progesterone (man made hormones).  Typically used for appetite increase in cancer and aids patients, actually helps with ovca as well (clinical trials are underway).  

- Phytoestrogens such as those found in fermented soy such as genestien.  Being made into an analog by Marshall Edwards Inc. (in phase 3 trials)...actually chemosensetizes platinum resistant cells again.

- Can't remember what type DIM and I3C are, but also in the 'estrogen' type class.

Basically these types of hormonal or estrogens work by taking away what ovca wants...human estrogen.  Using these 'weaker' estrogens/hormones works!

There is lots more science that goes into this, of course, but the point is they do work.  However, unless they get put into an approved FDA drug, it's unlikely your oncologist will breathe their names.


Alan

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Ovarian Cancer Research Website
http://cancer.alanpeto.com/

[rmarie]

Great information, where do you find all of this.  Your wife is lucky to have you, and we on this site also benefit.  Thank you, you are both in my thoughts and prayers.

[Hazel30]

You have a very good point.  And have answered a question thats been on my mind for a while now.  Why arent women taking additional medication to chemo so that the other nonresponsive cells are at least blocked from growing?  Very good point and this is something I will talk to my Moms doctor about.  My Mom is going through her first recurrence now and these things are more important to me now then ever.  At first I held on to a hope that my Mom would not recurre and now I only hope for a new treatment to come to  keep this diseas stable with a long life expectancy.
As always
Thanks Jatoo for the info you are a big HELP to all of us.