Cure Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma International (iCureASPS)

In some very rare cases complete response (CR) is achieved by targeted therapy (TT) and the question is what to do after it is achieved and how long to keep taking these TT. This study was done in the patients with RCC.
It is unknown if discontinuation of targeted therapy (TT) and readministration in case of recurrence is feasible in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in which complete response (CR) is achieved by TT alone or no evidence of disease (NED) with additional resection of residual metastases.


Outcome of treatment discontinuation in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and no evidence of disease following targeted therapy with or without metastasectomy
http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/conten ... 7.abstract

Conclusions: In the majority of patients with mRCC and CR or NED, discontinuation of TT was followed by recurrence, but re-exposure to TT was effective.

Dear Olga,
Thank you for sharing this very important and relevant information. Although the study is based on discontinuation of Targeted Therapy drugs with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) patients, RCC and Sarcoma are often included in the same Clinical Trials so there are apparently close bilological similarities between the two diseases. Although Cediranib was not mentioned as one of the Targeted Therapy drugs studied in the report, it is also a Targeted Therapy drug in the same category of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor ( TKI) drugs such as Sunitinib, Sorafenib, and Bevaciumab which were involved in the study. The conclusion of this report supports and validates the opinion that Brittany's extremely knowledgeable Clinical Trial oncologist, Dr. Michael Sawyer, has expressed to us that although Brittany has currrently had 30 months of disease stability with no new tumors, she may be macroscopically cancer free but not mircroscopically, meaning that there are heartbreakingly most likely still microscopic ASPS cells in her body that can eventually grow if her body develops resistance to the Cediranib, or if the Cediranib is discontinued. Based on those concerns, which are supported by the data and conclusion of this report, Brittany will continue on her Cediranib treatment as long as it is providing stabilization of her disease and she is able to tolerate the side effects of the medication. We realize the Cediranib and the other currently available TKI's are unfortunately not permanent cures for ASPS, but rather interim treatments to try to systemically stabilize disease progression and shrink tumors until a more sustainable treatment and permanent cure can be found. It is with this knowledge and understanding that we continue our aggressive and relentless research, search, and networking.
With special caring thoughts and continued Hope,
Bonni