Postby Sleen » Thu Aug 04, 2016 9:51 pm
The main scientist on my team, Dr. Tran, wrote to say that he thinks he now knows how/why the one tumor progressed despite all the others being killed. (Six of seven tumors were killed by TIL therapy.) Theories prior to my surgery were that the non-responding tumor could have developed a new mutation that my TIL didn't recognize, or that it lost its ability to "express MHC I". Tests soon after surgery revealed that it DID still carry the G12D mutation, and it DID retain its MHC Class I expression. Further analysis ensued.
As my immunotherapy fellow likes to say, "Dr. Tran did a bunch of Science on it", and he discovered that the tumor had evolved in a way that caused it to delete an entire chromosome. Chromosome 6, he said, is where the key genes for the immune system reside. Normal cells have two copies of this chromosome, but the tumor's cells had only one copy. The missing copy was the one that included the HLA C*08:02, which is the one needed in order for my TIL to recognize their target (the G12D mutation).
There is a more detailed explanation on my blog (see sig.), but suffice to say, cancer is REALLY SNEAKY and I'm glad they cut the bastard out.
Follow Up #8 next week. Hoping scans are clear.
News re: the shutdown. They are now authorized to treat one patient per week on the TIL trial.
Celine
Last edited by
Sleen on Thu Aug 04, 2016 11:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.
my blog:
Cancer RiotNED since April 2016!April 2016: lower left lung lobectomy.
NED8 mo. f/u: 1 of 7 tumors progressed.
6 mo. f/u
PR confirmed (Jan 2016)
Jul 2015: NIH TIL trial
NCT01174121 NCI/NIH Surgery Branch FAQDec 2014 confirmed stage IV w/bilateral lung mets
FOLFOX + Radiation (bladder)
KRAS G12D :: MSS
dx Sep 2013 @47yo: IIIc T4b N2b MX [bladder invasion, 17/21 lymph nodes]
Married 34 yrs. kids:
28,
25,
21,
16,
14 SE Michigan home schooler, unemployed mechanical engineer, and programmer.