anyone aware of MORAb?

I have recently had a recurrence of ovarian cancer that was staged at IIC in April of 2006. After 6 rounds of treatment with taxol/carbo I have had clear CT scans and a CA125 in the single digits. Now I have a malignant mass in the same general area as the original tumor.

With agreement from my gyn/oncologist and medical oncologist, I scheduled an appointment at MD Anderson and will get the results from their panel of doctors next Thursday, Jan. 3. It is likely that I qualify for a clinical trial of a drug that attacks the cancer cell directly, as well as be able to receive more carbo/taxol, if needed.

It would be necessary for me to move to Houston for a couple of months to receive this treatment weekly. Although this is possible, it would be very difficult.

I just signed up to this site yesterday when we returned from MD Anderson and am very interested to know if any of you knowledgeable ladies have any information or thoughts on this. (I did find this research study on the MD Anderson website.)

Thanks to all of you for your input on the variety of aspects of this disease. I have only just begun to explore this site.

By Carmeta
Posted December 30, 2007 at 10:10 am
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I, too, have just returned from MD Anderson. My first visit. I am in my first recurrence of my Stage IIIC cancer, diagnosed in Sept 2006. My cancer has returned to my abdominal nodes and abdominal wall. I learned from my doctor there about the MORab 003 Phase 2 clinical trial for women having their first relapse, and wanted to learn more about the logistics. My hopes were dashed when I was told that because I was on taxol maintenance, I don't qualify. If I had received IP chemo, that also would have disqualified me.

According to the notes I took in my MD Anderson doctor's office, MORab is a chemical (antibody) that targets the CA-125 proteins (I hadn't not understood it attacked the cancer cell directly).

Because I can't participate, I never did get to learn that participation in the trial requires living in Houston for a couple of months. That's a tough decision. I have a friend who moved to Detroit with his wife for a couple of months for a specialized treatment for his prostate cancer, but that was to increase his long-term survival from like 94% to 97%. With Stage IIIC, the doctors are still only guessing about what treatments will help a woman to live longer than five years from diagnosis. A certain percentage do, but it's not a comforting number.

So, the question for me will be how and where do I want to live the life I have and what am I willing to give up for a chance to be one of the Stage IIIC women who beat the odds?

I'm hopeful that next week my gyn-onc and medical onc and my MD Anderson doctor will come up with a treatment plan that will help me now, and that at some point I'll qualify for another promising clinical trial with something that will work for me!

Are you going back to Houston for the January 3 results?
My next appointment there is Feb 19.

I hope some of what I've written may be helpful as you think about your treatment options.

By bj1
Posted December 30, 2007 at 12:11 pm
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I really appreciate your comments. My husband and I did quite a bit of research yesterday and if I do qualify, we will probably try to move down there for a couple of months. I am trying not to get too excited because I don't know if I qualify for inclusion or not. Also, at this point we have no idea if our insurance company will cooperate. I have heard so many horror stories of insurance companies that refuse to cover any part of these treatments.

No, I do not return to Texas on January 3. My doctor will call me late in the day, after their panel discusses my case and recommend treatment for me. If I am to go back on the carbo/taxol, I will receive my treatment locally.

Since my recurrence, I have heard of many survivors who have beat the odds. True, these women are anecdotal but there are so many of them out there, someday you and I may be a part of that growing body of women who inspire and motivate the rest of us. Good luck to you in whatever treatment you choose.

By ilisten
Posted June 30, 2009 at 2:16 pm
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Hi to both of you who have talked about Morab 003.
There are trials open in more places than Texas. I am in Jupiter Fl and will start this trial next Wednesday. Am carbo allergic, with positive disease, and have been on 3 different chemos.
Maybe you can see if there are other sites for this trial, and certainly other trials. Look up "ovarian cancer clinical trial locations" on google. You should be able to input your own state and find out what is available, and in other states close to your location.
Good luck and be well.
iListen

By ilisten
Posted July 23, 2009 at 7:16 am
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HI Again,
Have now had 3 rounds of the taxol morab trial and am doing well on it, very very few side effects, am hoping I got the good stuff and that it is working.
I was told yesterday that this trial is open to 126 women across the US and outside. There are only 5 that I know of who are enrolled so far.
Here is a website for clinical trail research
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=%22Ovarian+Neoplasms%22.
Maybe you can copy it in your browser if it is not blue so you cn just click it.
I am currently on a clinical trial for taxol and morab 003 (a monoclonal antibody) tht works in 60%of ovarian cancer patients. There are 126 openings for this trial. You have to be platinum refractory, allergic or resistant to get in but it is worth trying for those of us who experience other therapies not working. The is not a difficult chemo to be on. I am still working and living my life.
Best of luck to you. Be well and spread the word about this study.
iListen
Please spread the word about this trial. Mine is in Florida but it is being done in othe states.

By ilisten
Posted August 19, 2009 at 4:01 pm
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Results of the clinical trial I am on and wrote about:
I have done 6 treatments on this clinical trial of taxol and morab 003 or taxol and placebo. Apparently I am getting something that works!!! It was my last hope.
After 4 treatments my CA125 went from in the 900s to 133!! A 90% drop.
If it holds and continues to work, I will have another CA125 before my 9th treatment .... in 2 and 1/2 more weeks. ... and I will try to update you here.
iListen

By Mimi2009
Posted November 21, 2009 at 4:35 am
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Hello ilisten!
I feel like I have sifted through so many websites to find some one going through this trial.
My mother who was given her ct scan results a couple of days ago, was told that one of her options (as her OVCa has been resistant to her initial 6 carbo/taxol Rx and that the disease is active <3mo from last Rx) would be to take this clinical trial. Second option would be Caleyx.
My mom is definately going to do the trial. Her app't nx wk will be for her screening and the following wk will be her first Rx. Naturally she is scared and hopes to be on the "good stuff" (as you said). She was Dx with stage IIIc in Jan. 09, had debulking surgery and finished last chemo July. Her first CT after chemo in August was promicing and CA 125 levels were 17. Now is a different story. Surgery is not an option and this was the only treatment her Onc. thought would be best.
It is so great to hear your news and I am very happy for you!!! Thank you for sharing your news and updates and I look forward to sharing my mom's as well.
Mimi

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