Dear Julie, I am sorry that Rachel's last two PCRs showed up positive. Is it a quantitative or qualitative PCR? Do you get numbers or just positive? Even if you get positive, the lab may be able to tell you if it is high or low positive. You need to get some numbers to see the PCR trend. If for 3 consecutive PCR values, the PCR is showing a rise (by having numbers, you can see this rise, if you just have a positive, it is impossible to tell, that is why most of us do quantitative PCR), then you can discuss doing a mutations test with the doctor to see if the bad protein being mutated is giving rise to Gleevec resistance. There is one mutation called T315I that will not respond to the current kinase inhibitors. The other thing doctors would do in this situation is a BMB to check what is going on in the marrow.
If it is a low PCR number, these could be bounces and nothing to worry about. If it is a high PCR number and the BMB shows positive for phillies, you can discuss 1) upping the dose of Gleevec and 2) going on Sprycel. All this if the mutations test shows that the T315I mutation is absent. Good news about the T315I mutation is that one trial at MDACC has a drug doing well for this mutation in Phase I trial and Rob posted yesterday about another drug going into trial. I think at this point in time, try to see the BMB results and do a quantitative PCR and get some numbers. I am praying for good results for Rachel, hope the positive values are bounces and nothing else. Just to get feedback from another Mom, Karyn's son, Tony, who is 16, became resistant to Gleevec and is now on Sprycel. He had a rising PCR trend and then his BMB showed positive. You may want to share experiences with Karyn. Please let us know the results of the BMB. Please do not get worried right now, Julie, if the PCR values are low, they can be bounces, you have to see the values themselves and the PCR trend. Best Wishes, Anjana caregiver to Roy --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to CMLHope@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
