July 14th - Info on my special kind of AML

I have AML FLT3. Below is some info regarding FLT3 and a clinical trial that is ongoing with a new drug CEP-701. I was on CEP-701 for about 10 days, but then I became ill and had to stop the protocol. CEP-701 is something that I can use again in the future if I am unable to have the Graft versus Host Disease.

http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org/news/archive_details.cfm?documentid=256


What are the basic facts about acute myeloid leukemia?

Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common form of adult leukemia and the second most common childhood leukemia accounting for more than 10,000 cases annually in the U.S. In this type of cancer, the myeloid cells of the blood and bone marrow grow uncontrollably, crowding out and destroying normal blood cells. Standard therapies include chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, which replaces the diseased bone marrow with healthy marrow. Overall, AML can be cured in up to 50 percent of patients without FLT3 mutations, but FLT3 mutant AML patients have a much lower cure rate.

What are FLT3 mutations?

FLT3 gene mutations are an alteration in the DNA of certain leukemia cells. They occur in up to 40 percent of acute myeloid leukemia cases. These mutations cause the cancer to grow more aggressively and to be less amenable to cure. Researchers at the Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a type of drug, called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, that blocks the activity of the mutated protein. This inhibitor drug, called CEP-701, was tested on AML cells in the laboratory and in mice and found to be effective in killing FLT3-mutant AML.

What is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor?

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are a new class of drug that have the ability to block gene signaling proteins. Mutated FLT3 genes use their tyrosine kinase portion to signal leukemia cells to grow and also to prevent them from dying. These drugs block the mutated gene’s signal and, therefore, its ability to communicate with cells. Think of someone speaking to you and requesting you to perform a function. If you were able to hear the command, you would respond. But, if you had cotton placed in your ears, it would block your ability to hear the command, and you would not respond. CEP-701 works in a similar manner with FLT3 gene signaling. The drug stops the leukemia cell from “hearing” the mutated FLT3 gene’s command to grow and spread.

July 14th

Hi everyone! This is my first update to the site... I thought you would all like to hear from me every once in awhile :) Today is Day 14 of my chemo treatment at Hopkins which meant I had another Bone Marrow Biopsy done by my Nurse practitioner, Denise. She is the best...it was totally pain free! I also got news that since I haven't had the negative side affects that usually go along with this treatment that I can choose when to discharge outta here. But I will probably have a procedure next where my sister, Marie, donates her lymphocytes (DLI) to me to kill off my Leukemia stem cells and force Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD). My hope is that GVHD happens this time so I can finally go into remission.

I know that the last update had some scary and sombering news, but I am happy to report I made it through the storm and we are back on course for treatment. It was something I definitely never thought I would be going through at this time in my life, but like any other life changing event it has helped to refocus me and what I want in life. Thank you to my mom, Marie, Jeremy, Amal and Susan for being there for me during that time. Apparently I was a hoot at times...I spoke fluent spanish while dreaming out loud one afternoon. I guess I was telling a Mexican family all about my cats. And I would break out in song and dance in my bed. I think it was my bodies way of letting my family know I was still in there fighting regardless of what the doctors said.

Things are very uncertain right now with my job and living situation. I have been informed that if I do not return to work by July 31st I will be terminated. So Jeremy and I have a lot on our plate. Even if I can return to work before the date, I do not feel I can return to my apartment in its current state of moldy carpet which would make me sick and put me back in the hospital. Also, I know I would need some additional time off since after the DLI we will be waiting for GVHD to take affect which could take up to 3 months to manifest. Again, a lot of decisions to make...

I have truly enjoyed reading the postings on the guestbook. I miss and love you all! Thank you for your support and prayers. And don't worry I plan to kick cancer in the ass no matter how long it takes me :)

Love, Jen :)