Clinical Trial

I got a report from AB and Kirk, they had a big day Tuesday with all the various specialists at UCSF. All is well on that front.

Prior to surgery, the UCSF physicians discussed the options regarding current clinical trials that they are running on glioblastoma patients. There are several in the works. They all decided on this one using the "sonic hedgehog" pathway medication. It happens to be set up that all participants get the trial medication (a pill) - some before surgery, and some (like Alison) after surgery. So she has started the drug, today is Day 4 and so far so good.

It's an interesting drug that targets the molecule that "controls cell division of adult stem cells and has been implicated in development of some cancers" (taken from the Wikipedia site on this, see the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_hedgehog). Researchers are very excited that this may be an important pathway to "disrupt" since it seems to be involved in why some adult cells go on to become glioblastoma cells. The news so far is that the drug is well tolerated - what a blessing! Given that standard chemo doesn't have a lot to offer and does have harsh side effects, and given that the Avastin seems to have let the cancer grow, this seems to be a promising option. Those of you with medical backgrounds might want to look at the NCT Clinical Trial site http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00980343 or you can look up NCT00980343 (I don't why it says it isn't recruiting because it sure is). Sorry if this all sounds clinical - but so many of us are medical folks, I thought you would be interested.

So, even thought Alison LOVES her sea turtles and other totem animals, I wonder if we shouldn't be looking for some pictures of hedgehogs to send her way! Fingers crossed, prayers on wings, rabbit feet a-rubbed, we are all hoping this is the breakthrough drug we have been waiting for!