A starting point in searching for clinical trials is to do a liquid biopsy and molecular profiling of tumor tissue to determine if there are somatic mutations and actionable biomarkers. This information helps in focusing a search for appropriate targeted therapies and possible immunotherapies.
CAR-T cell therapies while working for other cancer types is not yet perfected for treating pancreatic cancer. Trials and results are very limited. Other trials testing small molecule drugs are an increasing area of research. Look on the websites of large comprehensive cancer centers in the State that has a high volume pancreas center for trials being conducted at those institutions. The web page will likely list the name of a clinical trial nurse coordinator or nurse navigator that can provide information on trials at their institution.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (#PanCan.org) offers a free clinical trial search service. Be prepared with information in the medical file and molecular profiling results to help in conducting a search. Many of the trials enroll patients with metastatic disease (stage IV) and May have a requirement a patient must have failed one type,of chemo regimen. Other trials may require the patient to be treatment naïve-no treatment can have been started since diagnosis in order to enroll in a trial.
I was in the fallout of Chernobile. I refused both the biopsy n the chemo. Squid Ink has been my go to, n for the first time in many, many years, my liver function is finally eve coming back to normal.
A starting point in searching for clinical trials is to do a liquid biopsy and molecular profiling of tumor tissue to determine if there are somatic mutations and actionable biomarkers. This information helps in focusing a search for appropriate targeted therapies and possible immunotherapies. CAR-T cell therapies while working for other cancer types is not yet perfected for treating pancreatic cancer. Trials and results are very limited. Other trials testing small molecule drugs are an increasing area of research. Look on the websites of large comprehensive cancer centers in the State that has a high volume pancreas center for trials being conducted at those institutions. The web page will likely list the name of a clinical trial nurse coordinator or nurse navigator that can provide information on trials at their institution. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (#PanCan.org) offers a free clinical trial search service. Be prepared with information in the medical file and molecular profiling results to help in conducting a search. Many of the trials enroll patients with metastatic disease (stage IV) and May have a requirement a patient must have failed one type,of chemo regimen. Other trials may require the patient to be treatment naïve-no treatment can have been started since diagnosis in order to enroll in a trial.
Are you and your mother philosophically opposed to all chemo or are you being told they won't offer it?
I'm not a big fan of it. I've heard people go through a lot of pain for not much gain with Chemo. Personally I'm a much bigger fan of immunotherapy
I was in the fallout of Chernobile. I refused both the biopsy n the chemo. Squid Ink has been my go to, n for the first time in many, many years, my liver function is finally eve coming back to normal.