No long-term cure is known for diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.
Several experimental therapies that are curently being tested on clinical
trials have not yet shown any promising results.
Despite all this, Katya's relatives, friends and doctors are determined
to explore all available options to try to come up with a plan which would
leave Katya a chance of survival.
Our general intention is to use a combination of different modes
of treatment targeting as many as possible cell signaling pathways
essential for tumor growth. In the recent years many drugs
capable of affecting these pathways have been developed
and are currently available on the market or on clinical trials.
Here is Katya's current regimen (Last updated
10/14/2006 )
(Drugs with names written in italics are currently
not administered.)
Targeted small molecular and antibody-type inhibitors
These are low-toxicity chemotherapy agents, also known as biological or
enzyme therapy.
Gleevec (imatinib),
200 mg/day (9/27/05-7/12/06,
suspended during 11/18-1/10 because of liver toxicity);
targeting PGDFR and c-kit pathway;
stopped after tumor progression.
Tarceva (erlotinib),
50 mg/day (9/27/05-7/12/06,
suspended during 11/18-12/07 because of liver toxicity);
targeting HER1/EGFR pathway;
stopped after tumor progression.
Thalidomide,
200 mg/day (an inibitor of angiogenesis,
started 11/02, suspended 11/18-12/07, stopped completely on 12/21
after being implicated as responsible for liver toxicity).
Rapamycin (sirolimus), 1 mg/day (since 1/23-7/12/06), mTOR
inhibitor; reduced to .25 mg/day after 2/10;
stopped after tumor progression.
Nimotuzumab (Theraloc, TheraCIM, hR3),
(4/12/06-7/12/06),
one IV infusion of 150 mg per week
a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting EGFR pathway.
stopped because of tumor progression.
Avastin (Bevacizumab),
(7/19/06-10/11/06)
one IV infusion of 160 mg biweekly,
an anti-angiogenic monoclonal antibody.
stopped because of the primary tumor progression.
Irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar),
(started 7/19/06, stopped 10/11/06),
one biweekly IV infusion, an antineoplastic (=antitumor)
agent targeting topoisomerase I (a protein responsible for DNA topology
changes).
stopped because of the primary tumor progression.
Other Drugs
Melatonin,
7.5 mg/day (since 8/22) a pineal hormone with some established anti-tumor
capabilities.
Zofran, 4 mg/day (since 1/03) to prevent nausea and vomiting
associated with Gleevec.
Decadron (Dexamethasone)
(a corticosteroid, to control tumor swelling and related to it
symptoms after shunting surgery, 11/20-12/08, and at the beginning of
the radiation treatment, 1/4-1/29), various doses between 4 and .25 mg/day.
Artemether,
120 mg/day (farnesyl transferase inhibitor, started on 8/28,
suspended on 11/12 because of increased liver enzymes).
Herbal Treatment
Koraku Liquid
(since 8/31), an herbal extract of Ginseng, Bei Qi, Hang Lian
Cao, Huang Bai, and Lin Zhi which was studied and used in Japan and
China.
Astragalus exctract,
10 drops 2 times/day to improve the white blood count
PSK
(since 1/23/06), an immune supporting extract
from the medicinal mushroom Coriolus versicolor.
In Japan, PSK is an approved anti-cancer drug with decades of research
behind it.
Homeopathic Treatment
Ruta Graveolens 6c and Calcarea Phosphorica 3x
(since 6/8/06).
This treatment is used for brain cancer patients in India (and more recently
in the US) with some documented
and
anecdotal success.
Katya has been using various homeopathic compounds since the end of August.
The most recent ones (since mid-April, 2006) are
Colchicum Autumnale(for nausea and stomach problems)
Lycopodium Clavatum (for help with mood and behavior)
Supplements and Vitamins
Selenium, 5 drops/day (since 8/18)
Aloe Vera juice, 1/2 tbl spoon (since 8/18)
Low potency multi-vitamins (since 8/18)
Probiotics, tablets with acidophilus (20 billion cfu),
bifudum bacterium lactis (3-4 bln) and fructooligo saccharide (2300 mg)
(since 9/15).
Zinc (11/05-6/06), to help with low white blood counts.
Garlic in tablets (since 3/6/06).
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus Senticosus, since 3/6/06)
Bromelain, 500 mg capsules 3 times per day (10/3-12/15, restarted
3/8/06)
Green juice mixture: celery, broccoli, carrots, grass (restarted
4/10/06, stopped 7/06)
Diet
Katya has low sugar, high fiber, whole grain, mostly organic diet.
(Untill the beginning of December she was dairy and gluten free and
used red rice bread and goat milk products.)